Personal achievements: Ironman Winner, 10 times National Champion.
Scientist, athlete, and performance coach.
Four words, but not nearly enough to describe Bas' impressive career and unbreakable spirit.
Some athletes make sacrifices to pursue their goals. Other athletes just see it differently. They don’t need motivation, they don’t make sacrifices. They just do it. Driven by results, getting sh*t done and becoming unstoppable. The mindset of a true warrior.
Bas is a ten-time National Champion and has won several Ironman races. Besides that, he holds a Master’s degree in Human Movement Sciences -just because he wanted to understand, on an even deeper level, how sports and the human body worked.
When did you first realise you are talented? What made you choose to pursue that talent?
At a young age I enjoyed the excitement of competing and improving. I noticed I was more competitive than my training partners.
Who (or what) inspired you to become an athlete? Was that even an active choice, or did life just happen?
It just happened, first you train for an event, then you want to do better and before you know it you are training twice a day.
What sports performance are you most proud of, and, more importantly, why?
Winning an Ironman and my 3rd place at the European Champs.
What major challenges did you face while pursuing your ambition? And, more importantly, how did you overcome them?
I faced technical problems with my bike, disappearing running shoes, stomach problems. Kept showing up and prepared better for the next one always paid of.
Describe your worst sports performance. What did you learn from this experience?
Stomach problems which caused me to exit the race while in the lead, Ironman South Africa 2016. Train with your sport nutrition everyday!
Who is the embodiment of a true warrior, in your opinion? Why’s that?
Anyone who shows 100% commitment, no matter the level of competing.
Which strengths do you believe you have that make you a great athlete?
“No matter how hard you get hit, keep moving forward.”
If you could give your younger self a piece of advice, what would it be?
Don’t overdo it.
What sacrifices you made did you think were the hardest during your sports career, and how did you stay motivated?
I regard it as an investment, not a sacrifice. To achieve personal peak fitness, you don’t need motivation, like the Nike commercial says: “Just do it.”
Rank the top five priorities currently in your life.
Family, work, friends, sport.
If you could choose any other sport to be great at, what would it be? And why is that?
None!
Where does your passion for coaching come from? What was your reason to become a coach?
I have had 20 years in professional sport, I like to transfer knowledge and help others navigate to their personal best performance.
What can we expect from you in the (near) future? What are your plans and ambitions?
Helping more people to find their way into triathlon.
What’s the reason you chose to become part of Victus?
It’s practical to use, innovative, easy to use with my trainees and the best partner to have with your workout fueling strategy.
What would you like to see from us in the future?
An Endurance Gel! - ''Coming.''