Liesette Bruinsma

Started: She took up outdoor swimming at age 10 in Wommels, Netherlands. (gehandicaptensport.nl, 09 Oct 2019; teamnl.org, 28 Sep 2019) Reason: "I started in the outdoor swimming pool in Wommels, where I lived. I also wanted to swim in the winter, so I went with a neighbour to a swimming club in Bolsward. At age 11 I swam my first competitions. I didn't have a [Para swimming] classification at the time, so I just swam with the regular swimmers. Two years later I received a classification and then the swimming association contacted me. That's how I ended up in the Paralympic selection." (gehandicaptensport.nl, 09 Oct 2019; teamnl.org, 28 Sep 2019) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (knzb.nl, 26 Apr 2023) Awards: She was named the 2016 Paralympic Athlete of the Year by the Dutch Olympic Committee*Dutch Sports Federation [NOC*NSF]. (omropfryslan.nl, 22 Dec 2016) She was named the 2016 Paralympic Athlete of the Year in Friesland, Netherlands. (hzpc-heerenveen.nl, 16 Feb 2017) In 2016 she was named a Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau in the Netherlands. (Instagram profile, 29 Feb 2020; tvbolsward.nl, 21 Sep 2016) Additional Info: STUDIES Swimming has helped give her confidence in other areas of her life. "Through swimming, I learned to try new things. I was not good at English in high school, but by doing it more often and indicating that I needed extra guidance, I was able to pass my exams. I am now studying psychology, which is largely in English, at the Open University. I can do that at my own pace and mostly online. It is a lot slower than normal, but I like doing something besides my sport. I like to learn." (Instagram profile, 29 Oct 2020; gehandicaptensport.nl, 09 Oct 2019; teamnl.org, 28 Sep 2019) OTHER ACTIVITIES She has served as an ambassador for the Gehandicaptensport Nederland foundation, teaching introductory Para swimming classes as part of her role. Dutch film director Jesse Bleekemolen worked on a documentary about her training in the lead-up to the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (gehandicaptensport.nl, 09 Oct 2019; paralympic.org, 26 Feb 2018; telegraaf.nl, 02 Jan 2018)