Second Surge
Mayra Kroonenmakes the most of her unexpected
return to international gymnastics
this year’s nationals.”
Kroonen is one of several Dutch female
gymnasts who have thrived in their 20s. Oth-
ers include Suzanne Harmes and Gabriella
Wammes (both of whom returned after giving
birth), Fieke Willems and Anneke Lucke.
Kroonen credits gymnasts and coaches alike
for mutually encouraging competitive longevi-
ty among the Dutch ladies.
“We all have passion for the sport,” says
Kroonen, who trains under coaches Frank
Louter and Patrick Kiens at the Pro Patria
THOMAS SCHREYER
AS the youngest member of the Dutch women’s team at the 2003 worlds that failed to qualify for the 2004 Olympics, Mayra Kroonen was
expected to help rejuvenate the promising
national program that had placed fifth in the
world in 2001. Her own career soon
careened, however, and she retired in 2005
after tearing her ACL.
Kroonen’s comeback, which began in
2009, has been as fruitful as it has been unexpected. After making the all-around final at
the 2009 worlds, she helped
the Dutch women place seventh in the team final at the
2010 Europeans. She also
won the bronze medal on
floor exercise at the World
Cup of Moscow, and she took
four medals at the World Cup
of Maribor. Two weeks after
turning 22 in June, Kroonen
placed first all-around, and
won or tied for three of the
four event titles, at the Dutch
championships.
The second surge of Kroonen’s career began randomly
when a fellow student asked
Kroonen to join the gymnastics team at the university in
Amsterdam, where she was
studying physical education.
With no intention of returning
to high-level competition,
Kroonen soon discovered a
new sense of motivation and
uncovered some unfulfilled
potential.
“At first it was kind of weird
doing gymnastics on a lower
level, but the nice atmosphere
brought back my passion for
the sport,” says Kroonen,
whose name is pronounced
MAY-ra KROH-nen. “I trust-
ed my knee again and started
to train a little more. Last year
at nationals I competed for
the first time as a senior and
finished second. I am very
pleased to see that my results
are still improving and my
work paid off with the gold at
club in Zoetermeer. “Fieke showed us that
you can really do gymnastics if you are older.
She made a comeback in 2007, being 25
years old. Our coaches also changed their
minds, and they support us now with fewer
hours of training. We can communicate with
each other about the intensity of training,
training hours and how to plan other things as
college or work.”
Kroonen’s key adjustments include less
time in the gym (171⁄2 hours weekly, instead of
331⁄2 hours she trained as a teenager), fitness
sessions two or three times weekly, and train-
ing with a physiotherapist to prevent injuries
and carefully heal those she might incur. She
admits, however, that her veteran’s perspec-
tive does not make her immune to pressure
that gymnasts of all ages face.
