World champion between classes

With a world title under his belt, Levi van Nieuwenhuijzen went back to class. That’s what he did after winning the world korfball championship in Malaysia with the Dutch national U21 team. Once back in The Hague, the new academic year had already begun. Alongside studying four days a week, Levi trains and plays matches. How does he manage to keep all the balls in the air at once? 

Korfball plays such a major role in his life that it has also shaped who he is. “My social life exists because of korfball, because I still have a lot of friends I used to play with.” 

He won’t soon forget winning the world title in Malaysia. “You don’t get to experience tournaments like that very often, let alone in Malaysia. It’s incredibly special. A tournament like that is about more than just winning. You don’t only look back on the matches, but also on the great memories you make together with your teammates.” 

Planning and making choices 

Once back in the Netherlands, it wasn’t just the next training session that was waiting for him, but also a new academic year. Levi trains three or four times a week and plays a match at the weekend. Ideally, he would also like to make more time for the gym, family and friends, but that isn’t always possible. 

“You simply don’t have time for everything. Sometimes you have to choose between doing something fun with friends and going to the gym. I personally find that quite difficult. That’s why I try to plan my week as far in advance as possible. That way, I can keep an overview and make sure I have enough time for my studies.” 

Levi takes a lot from sport into his studies. “With korfball, you learn a lot about teamwork, and you need that during your studies too. The same goes for discipline and responsibility. You have to make choices and take responsibility for your decisions.” 

Elite sport at THUAS 

When he runs into a problem, he discusses it with a student elite-sport coordinator, for example when he needs to reschedule an exam because it clashes with a training session or tournament. He also makes use of the gym at THUAS. This saves him travel time and makes combining his studies with elite sport easier. 

Learning on and off the field 

After winning the world title, Levi has set himself clear goals. “I want to find an internship where I can learn a lot and develop myself, both as a student and as a korfball player, at my club Fortuna as well as with the national team.” 

For students who combine their studies with elite sport, he has one final piece of advice. “If your school can support you, really make use of that. And make sure you have a good schedule. It gives you much more clarity and overview.”