In this article we tell you more about student-athlete Gijs Thiessens. In addition, at the bottom of this article you will find the video in which Gijs tells more about himself.

Sports: Baseball
Entry semester: Fall 2025

This is Gijs Thiessens, a 16-year-old athlete from Apeldoorn. Sports have always played a big role in his life. He played soccer for six to seven years, but found that it didn’t really suit him. At fifteen, everything changed: he entered a softball tournament and was immediately excited. Soon after, he went to a tryout for baseball with his uncle, and from then on he knew for sure-this was his sport.

What makes Gijs special as a person is his social nature and openness. He is not afraid to show who he really is and can easily make friends. Whether it’s teammates, coaches or new people, he feels comfortable quickly and connects easily.

As an athlete, Gijs stands out for his dedication and work ethic. He is always motivated to train and get better. Before every practice, he arrives two hours early to get extra practice in. In addition to five days a week of baseball and extra workouts, he also trains in the gym to get physically stronger. He takes a critical look at his own game, learns from his mistakes and uses this opportunity to improve himself.

His dream is to reach Major League Baseball (MLB) and live a long, healthy and successful life. He is already making a conscious effort to do that, not only by working extremely hard on the field, but also by eating healthy and taking good care of his body. What Gijs brings with him to America? A hard-working, motivated player who lives for baseball. He gives everything, not only for himself, but also for his team.

“I will do anything to get better at baseball, and my dedication is unbreakable“
Gijs Thiessens

Want to get to know Gijs better? Check out the video below where he introduces himself!