Kimberly Alkemade

Started: She was scouted by national coach Arno Mul at a Paralympic talent day in 2017 at the Friendship Sport Centre in Amsterdam, Netherlands. "I felt very passionate in a short time about sprinting. I felt like I was free, and I thought, 'Wow, this is so cool! I want to run hard and fast, I want more of that'." (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019; kimberlyalkemade.com, 18 Sep 2019; Bernadette de Jong YouTube channel, 01 Feb 2019) Reason: Her prosthetist gave her a second-hand blade after she was told her insurance did not cover athletic activity. "He said, 'Go and do some sports and let me know how it goes'. I walked five kilometres in half an hour, I became more agile at volleyball and snowboarding went better. A whole new world opened up to me. I became physically and mentally stronger." (Bernadette de Jong YouTube channel, 01 Feb 2019; movingforgrowth.com, 27 Dec 2017) Additional Info: OCCUPATION In 2017 she launched a personal training business called Moving for Growth. "I let people grow through exercise and adjusting their lifestyle. When you get more exercise, you get energy and with this energy you, together with me, can develop the lifestyle that you have always dreamed of." (LinkedIn profile, 01 Mar 2024; Moving for Growth Facebook page, 12 Jan 2019; movingforgrowth.com, 27 Dec 2017)