Joy Beune (24) started skating as a young girl in her hometown of Borne in Twente, the Netherlands. She quickly turned out to be a great talent. Currently Joy is a long track speed skater with speed skating team Team IKO and there she gives everything she has. Where does she get all that energy?
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.
'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.'
'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.
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Living a social life is not easy when you compete at this level
'I really enjoy being 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.'
'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.
'Last March, I was in Paris with my boyfriend. There we took a picture at the Eiffel 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.
My friends understand that I have less time for them during the winter
Rational
