Bowling is seen by many people as a fun pastime. For Debbie Zwart (54), it is her great hobby, but the Tilburg native is also very good at it. She returned this week from the 50+ World Cup in Colombia, where she played under difficult conditions. A story about heavy suitcases, a sweltering room and oil.
No, Debbie did not just leave for Colombia with hand luggage and a suitcase of clothes. “Each participant in the World Cup was allowed to bring a maximum of six balls of his own. Some have many more, so you had to choose. For example, there is a ‘spare ball’ that you use if you want to throw a straight shot. There are also balls for when there is a lot of oil on the track or little. In Colombia there was a big difference per job. We do not throw the balls that are in the racks on the bowling alley, but look at what is required per lane and turn.”
The fact that the World Cup took place in Cali, Colombia, meant that several bowlers stayed at home because they did not know if it was safe. “I saw it as a wonderful opportunity for my first World Cup. I didn’t notice any insecurity, it was perfectly arranged for us. We didn’t see much of the area, because we had a full program. It was a lot of fun with our team and we slept in a hotel with many other nationalities.”
“My fat thumb almost didn’t fit in the ball anymore.”
She is not satisfied with her sporting performance, although she has a good excuse. “You first play six singles individually and the start was good. Then, due to the heat in the room, I got a big thumb that almost no longer fit into the ball. My friend made the holes a bit bigger, but I ended up with three blisters on my thumb. We solved this with gauze pads, but the heat did not keep them in place properly. So it was mainly a matter of worrying and I didn’t reach the level I could. In the end I finished 25th, while a top 10 ranking would have been possible.”
The fact that the Tilburg native started bowling more than thirty years ago has to do with her background as a softball player. “The seasons were short and I was looking for a fun sport for the winter months. I saw an advertisement for a bowling course in the local newspaper. That’s also throwing a ball, so I decided to give it a shot. I was sold and never left.”
“For me, bowling is an evening of fun.”
Don’t think that Debbie’s life is entirely devoted to bowling. Normally she only plays on Thursday evenings in her own hometown. “For me, bowling is an evening of fun. However, when a clubmate motivated me to try to qualify for the World Cup, I started taking it more seriously by participating in tournaments. With success and this World Cup leaves you wanting more. I hope to be at the European Championships in Leipzig in 2025.”
Finally, the eternal discussion: is bowling actually a sport? “I think so, but I think most people see it as a game. That image is completely different in, for example, Scandinavia or South America. Bowling is a real sport there.”