Dutch para dressage team trainer Joyce Heuitink-van Rooijen has announced that she will be retiring from her post after the 2024 Paralympics in Paris.
"Heutink began as team trainer in 2013 and under her supervision the discipline has grown enormously in level and breadth and several international medals were won," the Dutch equestrian federation posted.
For Heuitink-van Rooijen it wasn't an easy decision.
"It's a decision I thought long and hard about," Joyce stated. "In all those years I had so much joy in my work and I still have that. I learnt much on different levels and tried to develop the sport as good and as deep as possible and put us on the lap. The sport, the challenge, the athletes and staff have given me many highlights and pulled me through depths."
Heuitink feels a new challenge calling, either in the able bodied sport or maybe in para dressage in The Netherlands or abroad.
"I first want to go 300% for success in Paris with the Dutch para team. It's a great team and with results I have been proud of for years," she stated.
Photo © Dirk Caremans
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