Monique van der Vorst
Monique van der Vorst ( born November 20, 1984 in Gouda) is a Dutch woman who celebrated numerous successes as a Paralympic athlete and then moved to the professional cycling. In early 2012 came doubts pertaining to their disability.
Sports career
Paralympic athlete
Monique van der Vorst was in 1998 confined to a wheelchair after her left leg paralyzed her right knee and could no longer move completely. During her rehabilitation van der Vorst began to go hand bike. In the spring of 2000, she took part in her first race and won.
2001 was followed by other races and in the same year van der Vorst was European champion in the road race and time rating. In 2001 she won the first European Hand Cycling Competition ( EHC ). In 2002 she took part in the World Cup in Germany and this achieved a victory in the road race and a silver medal in the time score. Furthermore, took place in 2002 and 2003, her second and third victory at the European Hand Cycling Competition. Your European titles in the road race and time rating they could defend in the 2003 European Championship in the Czech Republic. 2004 succeeded van der Vorst again to become world champion. In addition to this victory at the World Championships in Switzerland, she was the fourth time winner at the European Hand Cycling Competition. In 2005, she won her fifth victory at the European Hand Cycling Competition, various victories in the road race and time trial at the European Championships in the Netherlands and was presented with a new world record time of 1:15:24 in the marathon on discipline. In the following years, Monique van der Vorst was able to continue its success. So it was at the 2006 World Championships in Switzerland First in the road race and second in the time trial. Also included participation in various cycling events such as the Tour of Australia 2006 and 2007, the marathon race of Rome, Rosenau and Bonn and the Korschenbroicher City Run.
On 2 May 2008 van was involved in a car accident der Vorst, by which they suffered a whiplash injury. The six -month rehabilitation prevented their participation in the World Championships in Bordeaux. Nevertheless, they failed to qualify for participation in the 2008 Paralympic Games and won two silver medals in Beijing. In the marathon of Miami she asked with a time of 1:14:50 hours on a new personal best.
During training, Monique van der Vorst and her training partner were approached on April 20, 2009 in Tampa by a car. She suffered a whiplash injury in this case again, as well as a spinal cord injury. After a further recovery in 2009 she could repeat her sporting achievements and won as a para- triathlete, the Ironman Hawaii World Championship. This earned her the choice for disabled athlete of the year 2009. In 2010 she was again involved in an accident. This van could move her legs der Vorst suddenly. After several months in the hospital and subsequent rehabilitation she was 20 November 2010 on its website announced that she was again able to walk without assistance.
Cyclist
After training in running and cycling Monique van der Vorst, signed a professional contract as a cyclist at the Rabobank Cycling Team for the year 2012.
In March 2012, doubts were raised as to whether the athlete had ever really suffered from a physical disability. Compared to a Dutch newspaper, she stated that the problems were " located at the head ."
On July 1, 2012, the Rabobank team again separated from the athlete. It justified this step with the "advice of the doctors ."
Private and honors
Van der Vorst currently lives in Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel and studied at the Free University in Amsterdam. In recognition of her sporting achievements her the Medal of Honor her hometown Nieuwerkerk aan was awarded the IJssel. In addition, here is the place Monique van der Vorst Plein was also named after her.