Growing up in the Netherlands presented many opportunities and challenges for local resident Stefan van Duursen. A swimmer from a young age and the dedication of thousands of hours to his craft, formed van Duursen to be the man he is today. Now a successful physical therapist clinic owner in Denver, Colorado, van Duursen shares some of his past in the sport of swimming. 

Question: What first interested you in swimming?

Answer: Any child in the Netherlands learns to swim at a very young age while in grade school. It is a federal mandate! This triggered my interest in taking it to the competitive level.

Question: How old were you when you realized you had potential in the sport, and how did you find this out?

Answer: I was 4 years old. My swim instructor told my parents that he saw “some potential.” 

Question: What are the biggest difficulties in a sport like swimming?

Answer: It requires many, many hours of training every day, 4 to 6 hours.

Question: How did you choose to accomplish your goals?

Answer: That actually happened without much consideration. My approach was always to maximize my potential. As long as I knew I did the best I could, the goal was achieved.

Question: What was the most challenging experience you had with swimming?

Answer: That sounds odd, but the most challenging was to not be able to train because of having the flu or something. Why? My competitor was training…not me.

Question: What was the highest level you reached in the sport, and how was this different from different levels in which you competed?

Answer: I competed at the sub top level in the Netherlands, meaning top five. When I reached that level I realized I was physically not strong and tall enough to reach the top three.

Question: What was the most satisfactory part of swimming?

Answer: It taught me discipline. A tool that has helped me to reach goals later on in life.

Question: How did swimming form you as a person?

Answer: It helped me to be patient and consistent while working steadily towards a goal.

Question: Who was your greatest support as an athlete?

Answer: My father. He supported me no matter what the result of my efforts were as long as I did the best I could. 

Question: Who was your greatest rival in swimming?

Answer: Henk Leendertse. Outside the pool a good friend, inside a fierce competitor and my biggest rival. I since then lost touch with him, but I am convinced he, too, became successful in whatever profession he chose by contributing his success to the skill set he learned as a competitive swimmer.

Question: What was your best event, and was it the event you enjoyed most?

Answer: Butterfly, and yes, I enjoyed this the most!

Question: If you could give any tip to a young, aspiring athlete in general, what would it be?

Answer: Set a goal, start working, and be satisfied when you know you have done the best you can.