Sports photographer based in Europe // capturing the lifestyles & personalities of top athletes for brands and teams     info@bramberkien.com     +31 6 28782194    
info@bramberkien.com     +31 6 28782194    
Bram Berkien - Sports photographer based in EuropeBram Berkien - Sports photographer based in EuropeBram Berkien - Sports photographer based in EuropeBram Berkien - Sports photographer based in Europe
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Location: Amsterdam

A quick look at Bianca’s statistics: she won every Dutch national championship for 400m hurdles from 2012 through 2017. Still, in 2016, she stopped competing, which she announced during this emotional interview with NOS. She felt like she was stuck, and sports was something she felt she had to do. This prevented her from really enjoying it. Quite simply, she wasn’t sure whether being an athlete was what she wanted most. It takes sacrifices and dedication, both financially, mentally and socially.

After taking this break and doing some soul searching, she was pulled back into sports and felt liberated when running again. She was quick to set her sights on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. A lingering injury hasn’t made things easy for her, and when I spent this afternoon with her she was working hard on recovering, all the while dealing with not being able to even run, let alone jump hurdles. This is the rough and long road to recovery that many professional athletes have to walk.

Bianca Baak putting on her running shoes
Bianca Baak portrait
Hurdles athlete Bianca Baak preparing for training
Bianca Baak doing drills during training
Bianca Baak drinking during training
Bianca Baak doing exercises on track
Bianca Baak checking her phone in the gym
Bianca Baak working out in a gym
Close-up of hurdles athlete Bianca Baak
Bianca Baak lifting a bar in the gym
Bianca Baak taking a rest to drink
Bianca Baak preparing for a gym workout
Bianca Baak hurdles athlete in a gym
Bianca Baak workout in a gym
Bianca Baak side plank core workout
Bianca Baak resting in a gym during a workout
Bianca Baak core workout
Bianca Baak stretching in a gym
Bianca Baak hurdles athlete power workout
Portrait of Bianca Baak, a top hurdles athlete from The Netherlands
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