Joy Beune (24) started skating at a young age in her hometown of Borne. She turned out to have a talent for it. Joy is currently a long track skater with the Team IKO skating team and is fully focused on her athletic career.

TEXT: MARTINE VAN DER DEIJL

PHOTOGRAPHY: NOPOINT STUDIO'S

MAKE UP: MARJA HERMES

I train twice a day, I love to do that. Although sport costs energy, it also gives me a lot of energy. As an athlete, besides training, nutrition is also important. But I am not very strict with myself. On race days and the days just before, I pay extra attention to what I eat. I don't eat vegetables or salads; they are very healthy, but it takes a lot of energy to burn them. On those days I eat fast sugars and carbohydrates. I can make good use of the energy I get from those while skating.

AN EXTRA PUSH

'I'm always nervous before a match. The nerves start a week beforehand. I feel in my gut then that something is about to happen. All my focus and energy go into that match. Winning the match is what I'm all about. I am not superstitious, but I have a necklace from my grandfather and a ring from my grandmother that I always wear. I do believe that somehow that gives me an extra push.

ADRENALINE

'After a race I'm full of adrenaline, I really can't sleep the night after either. This is extra tough on a race weekend, because I sometimes ride several distances in one weekend. If I can't sleep then, the trick is not to panic. Fortunately, it doesn't bother me very much the day after. But after a weekend like that I am really fucked up. The day after a race is really a day of rest. I try to sleep late and refuel. I'm used to getting at least 9 hours of sleep. That's what I do best.

FAMILYTIME

'I find it very fi ne to be with my parents and sisters, but because of my busy lifestyle it is quite difficult. Especially now that I live in Heerenveen, which is quite a drive. Fortunately, my parents come this way regularly. We usually go for a walk. That gives me energy. I like to be outside anyway. And I call my sisters a lot. We are very good together. What also energizes me is being with my boyfriend. He is also a top athlete, which means we both have busy lives. When we are done training, we like to chill on the couch and watch a series. Then I take my rest and we have a good time just the two of us.'

FRIENDSHIP

'It is quite difficult to have a social life as an athlete. A friend of mine lives in Heerenveen, just like me, so I can easily go to her for coffee or we go cycling together. My friends who also skate I see at the rink. But my friends outside skating I see a little less. Fortunately, they understand that I don't have much time. That is very nice and it really feels like true friendship. In the summer I have more time to do fun things than in the winter, then we go to a beach for example, that gives me positive energy.

BREAKING REST

'Last March, I was in Paris with my boyfriend. There we took a picture at the Eifel Tower. I had a painting made of that, which I have to paint in myself. That sounds very droll, but it keeps me sitting still. On my rest day I really have to rest, but I am very bad at sitting still. So I do this painting very consciously. It helps me clear my head and get my rest.