“Try to Look at What I Still Can”- 41-Year-Old Dutch Cyclist Annemiek Van Vlueten’s Journey From Crash to Crown

Annemiek van Vlueten is the name that goes well with Spring Classics, World Championships, Grand Tours, and Olympic Games. The name behind the 2022 World Championships in Wollongong shared her experience of witnessing defeat during the 2016 Rio Olympics. 

However, the 41-year-old Dutch cyclist instead of being morose by her failure, taking lessons from the moment that crushed her dreams had set the wheels in motion towards her ascent to greatness. Her living room is adorned with various memories, amidst which there is a photograph from the fateful day that serves as a poignant reminder of the turning point in her career. 

Van Vlueten’s Olympics journey was filled with triumph and tragedy

Van Vlueten made her debut in the road race at the 2016 Rio Olympics as a Dominique and not as a star. Backed up by Anna van der Breggen, her compatriot, who later seized the gold medal, the race took an abrupt turn. As Van Vlueten reached the final climb, she got motivated and took charge even though she had been a support rider. 

Transcending her designated role and defying all expectations, Van Vlueten dropped all her competitors along the way. Little did the cyclist know what was lying in front of her. Misfortune struck when she misjudged a corner and crashed on a stone curb landing her in the hospital with two broken spinal bones and a concussion.  

However, with her failure in the 2016 Olympics, she got a chance to reassess her outlook toward life as she shared her view, “The main thing I learned from that Olympics is that, if I focus on something with a big goal, I can do more than I thought I was able to.” It was because of this tragedy her resilient spirit emerged from the debris. 

Power of positivity in the redemption process

The defeat at such a reputed platform that had left her with high hopes paired with the physical pain had taken a toll on her mental and physical health. Yet Van Vleuten refused to allow the setback to crush her morale and maintained a positive outlook. By keeping herself away from dwelling on the negative, the cyclist herself became a driving force that earned her subsequent success. 

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Van Vleuten shared a glimpse of how she adheres to a positive mindset in a professional environment where ruthless competition runs supreme. She said in a statement, “It’s the mentality that has helped me a lot in my career. I always try to look at what I still can and the positives. Some people think that I act, but it’s really in my DNA to be a positive person and not get negative about things I cannot change. Accept and move on, that is my mantra.” Hence, she admits that the challenging time provided her with more than a medal ever could. 

Fast forward five years from her crash in the Rio Olympics, Annemiek van Vlueten made a remarkable comeback in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. She secured a silver in the road race and clinched gold in the individual time trial became a stepping stone in the process of Olympics redemption that in turn solidified her status as a cycling champion. 

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