As a child, a growth syndrome and cancer were discovered at Milou van Wijk. She found her way out in the sport and starts this week at the Langebaan World Championship. Van Wijk tells frankly about her special road to the swimming top.
The parents of Van Wijk were stupid when their daughter pointed to Ranomi Kromowidjojo ten years ago and told them she wanted to go swimming too. “You, swimming? You didn’t like that at all?”
Van Wijk was on basketball until that moment, but went looking for a less injury -sensitive sport on the advice of the doctors. The doctors had known Van Wijk for years. Her niece noticed when she was a year and a half old that one leg of Van Wijk is longer than the other.
Investigations in the hospital showed that Van Wijk has the Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. It is a rare growth syndrome where children are larger and heavier than their peers. “I stumbled over my legs while running,” she says.
Van Wijk five fractures rose within three years. “Then I was completely done with basketball,” she says. “I didn’t want to fall anymore, I didn’t want to break anything anymore and so I stopped. Then swimming became my outlet, as basketball was always.”
“I didn’t want children to be afraid of me”
With her 1.84 meters, Van Wijk soon stood out as a child. Her height did not only evoke curiosity. It also made her target of harassment. “I was excluded in the schoolyard, because I was standing out above everyone,” says the Zwijndrechtse.
Every day Van Wijk received at school, at swimming lessons and everywhere she went the question of how old she really was. The honest answer she gave was never believed. “I even had to show my ID card a few times,” says Van Wijk.
“Everyone in primary school thought I had stayed for four years, but of course that wasn’t at all,” she continues. With a little smile: “I was even an early student …”
Parents of other children also looked at Van Wijk with surprise. “They thought that I was too strong or too big for their child to play with. They thought I was going to hurt their child. I didn’t want to be that outsider anymore. I didn’t want children to be afraid of me.”
Tumor was discovered at the age of two
Due to the harassment, Van Wijk was very happy to get rid of primary school. She wanted to go to high school. She had been looking forward to that so much. “But then it was just as bad there.”
“I really fantasized from a new beginning, friends, name it. I couldn’t wait. But there I was still the outsider. That is perhaps the hardest blow I had.”
With the hardest blow, Van Wijk never thinks about the tumor, which was discovered when she was two. Due to the Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, Van Wijk had an enlarged chance of getting a certain type of children’s tumors.
“Especially for my mother it was painful. I am the only child, although I still have two step brothers on my father’s side. It was terrible for her to see me like that. I don’t remember much of it. It is especially the emotional part and the aftermath who have stayed with me.”
Not only find distraction, but also self -confidence
For the third time, Van Wijk will be on the Langebaan World Championship next week, but this time it is extra special. It is the first time she can start individually, after she had been part of an relay team in the previous editions.
Van Wijk found not only distraction, but also self -confidence in swimming. That was the sport with which she wanted to stop after her B diploma as quickly as possible. Now she wants to be an example, such as Kromowidjojo that was for her ten years ago. “In the end I want to spread a message.”
“You can always do more than you think. I have experienced so much physically, but I am here now. It is not always the perfect picture, so you can get there.”
As a child, Milou van Wijk was diagnosed with a growth syndrome and cancer. She found her way out in sports and will start this week at the world long course championships. Van Wijk Talks Candidly About Her Special Journey to the Top of Swimming.
Van Wijk’s Parents Were Stunned When Their daughter Pointed to Ranomi Kromowidjojo On Television ten Years ago and Said That She also Wanted to Swim. “You, swimming? You didnn’t like that at all?”
Van Wijk had Been Playing Basketball Until That Moment, But On The Advice of Doctors, She was Looking for a Less Injury-Prone Sport. The Doctors had Known from Wijk For Years. Her niece noticed when she was one and a half years old that one of van Wijk’s legs was longer than the other.
Tests in The Hospital Showed That Van Wijk Has Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome. It is a weird growth syndrome in which children are larger and heavyer than their peers. “I tripped about my legs when running,” She says.
Within Three Years, from Wijk Suffered Five Fractures. “THEN I WAS STALLY DOONE WITH BASKETBALL,” She says. “I Didn’t Want to Fall Anymore, I Didn’t Want To Break Anything Anymore, So I Stopped. The Swimming Became My Outlet, Like Basketball Always was.”
‘I Didn’t Want Children to be Afraid of me’
At 1.84 meters, from the Quickly Stood out as a child. Her height not only aroused curiosity. It also made her a target for bullying. “I was excluded in The Schoolyard because I Stood Out Above Everyone,” Says the Zwijndrechtse.
Every Day at School, Swimming Lessons and Everywhere She Went, Van Wijk Was Asked How Old She Really was. The Honest Answer She Gave was never believed. “I just had to show my id card a few times,” Says van Wijk.
“Everyone in Elementary School Thought I had leg hero back for four years, but that was of course not the case at all,” She Continues. With a small laugh: “I was just an early student …”
Parents of Other Children also looked at van Wijk in Amazement. “They thought I was too strong or too big for their child to play with. They thought I was going to hurt their child. I did because to be that outsider anymore. I did’s want to be afraid of me.”
Tumor discovered at the age of two
Because of the Bullying, Van Wijk was Eager to Leave Elementary School. She wanted to go to high school. She had leg looking forward to that so much. “But then it was just as bad there.”
“I really fantasized about a new beginning, friends, you name it. I couldn’t wait. But there I was still the outsider. That is Perhaps the Hardest Blow I Have.”
When it comes to the hardest blow, from the Doesn’tn’t Think for a second about the tumor that was discovered when she was two. Due to Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome, Van Wijk had an increased Risk of Developing a Certain Type of Childhood Tumor.
“It was Especiate Painful for My Mother. I am an only child, although I have two stepbrothers on my father’s side. It was terrible for her to see me like that. I Don’t Remember Much of It Myelf. It is Mainly The Emotional Part and the Aftermath.”
Not Just Finding Distraction, But also Self-Confidence
Van district Will Be at the World Long Course Championships for the Third Time Next Week, but this time is extra special. It is the first time that she can start individually, after having bone part of a relay team in previous editions.
Van Wijk Not Only Found Distraction, But also Self-Confidence in Swimming. That was the sport she wanted to quit as soon as possible after her b diploma. Now she hens to be an example, Like Kromowidjojo was for her ten years ago. “Ultimately, I want to convay a message.”
“You can always do more than you think. I have experienced so much physical, but I am here now. It is not always the perfect picture, you can get there that way too.”