In the third episode of ‘Champions like you’, Imara goes sailing with Pieter van Leijen, who—like her—lives with rheumatism.

Together, they share experiences regarding sports, managing energy levels, and dealing with a condition that isn’t always visible. An open conversation unfolds about challenges, possibilities, and the power of a good role model.

For Imara, this encounter demonstrates that sports can be part of one’s life in many different ways. It is not about performance, but about discovering what suits you and what gives you energy.

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.