Tim de Vries

Started: He took up handcycling in September 2010. (handbikertim.nl, 26 Sep 2015) Reason: He initially got involved in Para rowing in 2005. However, he did not enjoy competing in a four-person boat, which led to him switching to Para cycling. "I was dependent on three other people to realise my Paralympic dream. So that's where rowing ended for me. Then I accidentally came across handcycling and I liked it so much that I pursued it straight away." (asr.nl, 18 Jan 2023) Ambition: To win a gold medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (asr.nl, 18 Jan 2023) Additional Info: AMBASSADOR He has served as an ambassador for the Johan Cruyff Foundation in the Netherlands, and is particularly focused on supporting children with an impairment. He covered a 500km charity handcycle ride in 2020 for the foundation. "As an ambassador for the movement of the Johan Cruyff Foundation, I think it is important to keep children active, especially now. It's really nice to help make their cycling dreams come true. For children with a physical disability, the thresholds are quite high to start handcycling. You soon find yourself in a situation where you have to buy such a bike yourself, without really knowing what it has to meet." (asr.nl, 18 Jan 2023; 1limburg.nl, 02 Nov 2020; knwu.nl, 23 Oct 2020) OCCUPATION He began working as a bus driver in the Netherlands in 2003. (LinkedIn profile, 25 Feb 2024; Transdev LinkedIn profile, 25 Sep 2023)