Proud of our student athlete: hockey world champion

What an achievement: Kaat Walhof (Industrial Engineering & Management student) and her team became world champion with the Dutch U21 national hockey team, Jong Oranje. After a thrilling final in Chile against Argentina, she and her team were crowned the best in the world. 

A special achievement for the midfielder, who played an important role in the match: “One of Jong Oranje’s penalty corner variations resulted in the ball being tipped onto my feet via Iris de Kemp, which created a lot of danger in the Argentine circle,” she explained.

Discipline, ambition and enjoyment

Combining a study with a top-level sports career requires perseverance. According to Kaat, it’s mainly about planning, setting priorities and seizing opportunities. "I have to do a lot of planning and make sure I can be present as much as possible. If I have to attend classes, then I ensure I do." She brings that same discipline to both her studies and her sports. "In sports, you always want to improve. That’s actually exactly what my study programme’s about as well. Optimising everything, wanting to do things more efficient. There’s a strong connection between the two." At the same time, she emphasises that enjoyment remains just as important. “If it’s not fun, then it doesn’t really motivate me at all. You have to be able to laugh a little as well.”

Learning on and off the field

Her world title shows what’s possible when talent, ambition and the right support come together. Kaat herself explains how important that support has been: "THUAS can provide financial support to help me participate in events such as the World Cup and in addition I have a really great elite sports coordinator who supports me." Her story proves that studying and excelling at an international level don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

An inspiration for the future

Kaat has a clear message for other students: "Take a good look beforehand at what the study programme looks like and what the university can do to accommodate you as best as possible." During the World Cup, she mainly learned how to deal with the high expectations and pressure that come with elite sport. "The most important thing I learned is how to deal with pressure. As soon as you play with the “big fish” people expect you to win gold. I hoped I’d be able to handle that, and I did." With a world title to her name, a study at THUAS and her focus on further development, Kaat shows what’s possible when talent is combined with hard work, enjoyment and the right support. An inspiration for our entire community and an example of how THUAS students make a difference, both inside and outside the classroom.