The Netherlands’ Carina de Rooij has been appointed to the new Athlete Steering Committee as a representative for the European Zone.
39-year-old, Carina De Rooij, has a wealth of playing experience behind her, playing international for the national wheelchair basketball team for the past twenty years and is currently captain of the Netherlands Women Team. Commenting on her appointment to the Steering Committee, she said:
“I am honoured to be elected for the first Athlete Steering Committee.“
Carina’s list of achievements is extensive and impressive including a World title, two Paralympic bronze medals and two European Championship titles. Basketball is also embedded into her family life, as Carina is married to former wheelchair basketball athlete, Anton de Rooij, who recently retired from playing following making 759 international appearances and holding the record for the most caps for the Netherlands.
“I have been playing wheelchair basketball for 20 years now. During those 20 years there has been a tremendous development of our sport. I would like to share my experience and insights that I have gained throughout my time in wheelchair basketball with the Athlete Steering Committee.”
A full-time international athlete, basketball is not only Carina’s passion but her job, she trains with the Netherlands women’s programme and also plays for the Sunrise Medical Braves in Doorn, Netherlands. Looking ahead Carina explained how she would like to use this new role on the Athlete Steering Committee to encourage and support the development of wheelchair basketball further:
“I hope wheelchair basketball will continue to grow in size and professionalism in the future and that the Athlete Steering Committee can make a contribution to this.”
Find out more about the Athlete Steering Committee.
