She is only 15 years old, but Elizya Kavak is taking huge steps as a gymnast. De Bossche comes into action as a senior on Friday at the International Gymnix, a large international gymnastics match in the Canadian Montreal. “I used to look up to the girls of TeamNL, now I can come with them myself.”
As a child, Elizya was very mobile. She did several sports, such as football, judo, hockey and tennis. But when she was about 7 years old, she went with a friend to the gymnastics hall and she was sold. “In the beginning it was mainly playing at my club in Eindhoven. Soon I went to Flik-Flak in Den Bosch. When it became clear that I had talent, it became increasingly serious. The Olympic Games were always my goal, but I did not realize in the first few years that I might ever really be able to make it. ”
Especially in the last year, the career of Elizya is going very fast. The Brabantse was with the Dutch Juniors, became Dutch champion all -round and in the beam part at the juniors and January 1, 2025 she took the step to the seniors. There, the only 15-year-old student is in the entry team of the Netherlands, which consists of a number of top talents who may have a chance to win the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
“With the team I will participate in an international competition in Canada from Friday. Eythora Thorsdottir, among others, comes along, a top gymnast that I was very much a fan of. I also loved the other gymnasts of the Dutch team to watch on television. Now I sometimes come across them in competitions. “
“Hope to be at the big tournaments as soon as possible.”
In the coming years, she hopes to take the step to the core team with the very best gymnasts in the Netherlands through the inflow team. “Everyone has his or her own growth, but I hope to be at the big tournaments such as a European Championship or World Cup as soon as possible. Now that I am getting higher, I am even more motivated to work hard for my goals. ”
At her club in Den Bosch she trains eight times a week. That means that she has a flexible school program at her top sports school. “I am an athlete who gives every training everything. I demand that from myself. One training is, the other time less effort really doesn’t suit me. That I have a different life than many peers because of the sport, I have to do it. But I do make time for my girlfriends. “
“I inherited the sporting of my parents.”
What makes her so good is not just her attitude. “I have good jumping legs and am powerful. In addition to my talent, I inherited the sporting of my parents. That’s how my father played football. It is also mentally good with me. Of course I have sometimes had to deal with setbacks, but within the team I can discuss that well. ”
