In the second episode of ‘Champions like you’, Thijs is introduced to the world of wheelchair basketball. Together with Jitske Visser—who knows firsthand what life in a wheelchair is like—he discovers just how challenging and fun the sport is.

On the court, it is all about speed, tactics, and teamwork. But the encounter is about more than just sport; sharing experiences fosters a sense of connection and builds the confidence to take on new challenges.

Thijs’s story shows how important it can be to meet someone you can relate to—someone who demonstrates that dreams and ambitions don’t stop at a disability. Thanks to this, Thijs still plays basketball with the team every week!

About Champions like you

‘Champions like you’ is a video series that encourages children with a disability or chronic condition to take up sports alongside an elite athlete who has a similar condition. The ‘Champions like you’ video project is funded by Convergence Healthy Start and Erasmus MC Sophia Children’s Hospital. Through this project, we demonstrate how sports can contribute to the health, self-confidence, and social participation of children and young people with a chronic condition or disability.