Katja Stam from Klijndijk is 1.92 meters tall and one of the best beach volleyball players in the world. She and her partner Raisa Schoon made it to the Olympic Games in Tokyo and now they are aiming to participate in ‘Paris 2024’, which will literally be played under the iconic Eiffel Tower. An interview about her life, studies and special interest in the human body.
Can you briefly describe yourself?
“I think I am a positive, down-to-earth and ambitious woman who wants to get the best out of herself, in whatever form.”
What is your best childhood memory?
“The holidays in Italy, somewhere near Lake Lugano. Thinking back on that always makes me very happy. I consider those vacations to be a very valuable time with our family. Now that I no longer live at home, I see my parents, brother and sister much less.”
What events in your life would you rather not have experienced?
“I don’t really have any bad memories. Well, when I was in Youth Orange of indoor volleyball, I didn’t have much fun for a while because I put so much pressure on myself. I just thought: I have to do it right. My idea was that it was only fun if it went well. Later I came to realize that if I’m having fun, it will probably go better.”
What grade do you currently rate your life?
“I would say an 8.5. I feel fine in the sport, I notice that we are on the right track. I am also happy when I come home to my boyfriend, where I can be myself. That figure will only become a 10 if I also have all peripheral matters in order. With my study physiotherapy and doing an internship, for example. That combination with top sport is sometimes a bit challenging.”
Do you think you should study as an Olympic top athlete?
“No, I don’t think it’s necessary, but first of all I like it myself. Then I also have something else on my mind than just playing volleyball all day. And the sports career is not infinite. So I also think it is important to think about what I can do later.”
Is there a special award, a medal or something, that has a place in your house that you are especially proud of?
“We didn’t get a medal, but winning the Continental Cup in 2021 meant qualifying for the Olympic Games. That is the most important achievement to date.”
Beach volleyball also has a sexy image. Do you think that’s important yourself? Do you try to be sexy when you present yourself?
“The latter is not the case. I don’t really think that with my 1.92 meters I necessarily have the best motor skills to be super sexy. Anyway, on the other hand, I don’t mind playing in a bikini either. So I think that image also has something for the sport.”
Do you count the calories you take in every day?
“No actually not. But I do watch my diet. I need to have enough energy to train and also make sure that I recover well. But I’m not very busy with that because I just feel myself if I’m fit. If that is not the case, I will spend a little more time on it.”
What’s the most delicious thing you’ve ever eaten?
“I am really a big sushi fan. So for a good sushi place you can wake me up. But actually I don’t often eat sushi abroad because it can sometimes be a bit risky with raw fish.”
What does your perfect day look like? You can organize it all by yourself.
“I would say a little bit of everything. So sleep in a bit, then a good workout. Maybe a little studying and a little internship. Then just go home at 5 pm, cook dinner and sit on the couch in the evening. That would be perfect. I love just being home, because I’ve been away so often.”
What can you be terribly annoyed about?
“To people who have an opinion about my beach volleyball career, while they don’t really know what I actually do every day. Last year we had done really well in the first few tournaments and medaled three times. And then we took fifth place three or four times in a row, always losing against the world top by small margins. Then suddenly you hear people claim that we are in a slump and that things are not going well. That can really bother me sometimes. Those people have no idea how broad the world top is, of course.”
If you hadn’t been a top athlete, what profession would you have chosen?
“I really wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon. I just find the human body really interesting. No, I can’t explain why. As a little girl I actually wanted to be a surgeon.”
Who would you like to meet?
“I don’t really have a superhero or anything that I really look up to. But Epke Zonderland can inspire me. He also has a somewhat down-to-earth personality and I think it’s great how he combined his medical studies with his top sport. I myself was drawn for medicine and that is why I now do physiotherapy. That is also sometimes difficult and I would like to talk to Epke about that.”