Lisa Scheenaard can go to the Olympic Games for the third time. For the 35-year-old rower from Eindhoven, these are her last Games and it may even be her last major tournament. In addition to spending many meters on the water, Lisa has a special sporting hobby. She has already been Dutch Champion Against Wind Cycling three times.
The NK Headwind Cycling produces hilarious images. All participants receive a bicycle with a coaster brake and without gears. With at least wind force 7 along the Oosterscheldekering, the sports enthusiasts cycle 8.5 kilometers with the wind in their faces.
“As a cycling enthusiast, I have wanted to take on this challenge for some time, but it never happened. Until I happened to have time in 2018. I had just returned from a training camp in New Zealand and with jet lag I got on my bike. I was in great shape, because I cycle a lot as an alternative training.”
Because of her win, she automatically received a participation certificate for the next National Championships. “Coincidentally, I just came back from a training camp and won again. The edition after that same story. Last year I was unable to participate, but the competition was canceled because the wind was too strong. If I have time, I like to defend my title.”
Cycling is part of her training schedule, but she spends most of her time in the boat. Lisa has been a fixture in the Dutch team for many years. During the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro she participated as a reserve, five years later she took the bronze in Tokyo together with Roos de Jong. “I experienced the Games in Brazil more than in Japan, although I did participate there. Because of corona there was a special atmosphere without spectators.”
“The men on the team provide a nice atmosphere.”
The Olympic Games in Paris will be her last. “You live for it for four years. Training together with the men was a new development. This way you can spar at a high level, but men also create a nice atmosphere.”
The fact that she is in double sculls with Martine Veldhuis is special for Lisa. “Martine has been in the Dutch team for about five years and we are friends. It is difficult to predict where we will finish, because as a duo we do not have much experience in races. We are confident of a good result.”
The Eindhoven native has not yet decided whether she will stop completely after Paris, but is thinking about her future. “I will always continue rowing. It would be great to continue in a coaching role. I have personally benefited greatly from the people who have guided me. If it were possible, I would certainly be open to it. But first I’m fully focused on the Olympic Games.”
Nine years ago, Omroep Brabant made these images at the NK Tegenwindfietsen.
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