Name: Manou Meulebeek
Born: 8 Oct. 2005
Sports: Women’s Swimming & Diving
School: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Placed: Fall 2024
An explosive diver with Olympic dreams
Manou Meulebeek is one of the greatest talents in Dutch diving. She started at PSV Diving, where she worked her way up to become a member of the Dutch Team, with the goal of reaching the absolute top. Meanwhile, Manou is part of the varsity diving team at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), where she trains and studies on an athletic scholarship in the American NCAA system. And with success: in her first year, she was named Rookie of the Year.
A career full of highlights
Manou began diving at the age of six, under the tutelage of former Olympic jumper Nora Barta. It soon became apparent that she had exceptional talent. By the age of ten, she was already competing in international tournaments such as the Eindhoven Diving Cup, Ulla Klinger Cup and Las Palmas Pepsi Cup. In the years that followed, she worked with top coaches such as Joey van Etten, Jonathan Malusardi and national coaches Angelique and Sabine de Vroome. At 17, she was selected for Team NL and trained under national coach Ramon de Meijer.
The move to the U.S.
After completing her high school diploma at St. George’s College, Manou took a gap year to fully focus on her sport and preparation for her American adventure. Despite the time pressure in the process, with guidance from Slamstox, she managed to successfully complete all the steps. In the final stage, Slamstox supported her in completing the application and all administrative requirements for admission.
NCAA, here we go!
At UTRGV, Manou found the perfect combination of top sport and academy. She is now part of the varsity diving team and trains at a high level while combining her studies with intensive training schedules and competitions. Her ambitions reach far: participation in the NCAA Championships, qualification for the European Championships, World Championships and eventually the Olympics.
The success of her first year in America is evidenced by the fact that she was named Rookie of the Year – recognition for her strong performance, commitment and contribution to the team.
“Manou has an incredibly high level. Her technical precision, explosiveness and international experience make her an absolute asset to the NCAA circuit.”
By now, Manou is fully accustomed to the American system. She feels at home on her team, is growing as both an athlete and a student, and is setting her sights on international success.
Are you interested in college diving in the U.S. just like Manou? Schedule a free introduction!
