Mayke van Wouwen-Koek from Almkerk is training hard. She hopes to become the strongest woman in the Netherlands on September 17. At the previous edition she participated as a joke and then promptly became second. As a result, she is automatically qualified for this competition. And this year she’s going all out.
In the parking lot behind the gym where Mayke trains five days a week, a truck is set up in preparation for the competition in Friesland. Mayke is attached to the colossal car with a harness and sets the colossus in motion with an immense effort.
With a grim face she pulls the car 30 meters ahead. “Once it’s moving, it’s especially hard to keep the truck moving,” she says, panting at the finish line. “It’s a bumpy road so you really bump into yourself, but it’s super fun to do it.”
Just before this training, Mayke was told that the part with the truck is not on the program this year during the national competition to find the strongest woman. But that should not spoil the fun. Mayke has been doing crossfit for nine years, but that became too gymnastic for her. In corona time she has started to focus more on strongman disciplines. That is, for example, towing with trucks or lifting huge stone balls.
She also trains with men, because that motivates her better. “They challenge me to get the best out of myself. The best thing is when the men see me at work and then notice that I’m getting close to what they can handle.”
There are also tractor tires weighing more than 350 kilos on the training grounds. “They are for band flipping”, Mayke explains. With apparent ease she lifts the lying belt and throws it on the other side. “You can try it too,” she says with a laugh. Fortunately, there are no images of it, because your reporter can’t get the tire off the ground more than a few centimeters.
“I started nine years ago after the birth of our child. I wanted to get fit and in shape again. And now I’m here after a lot of training. I find the strongman parts very challenging, they bring out the best in me. In addition, I especially like it when my family is proud.”
And that has succeeded, husband Floor van Wouwen is radiant watching how his wife takes on one tough challenge after another. “I am not imitating her, what she achieves and especially her dedication, discipline and endurance I am very proud of.”
The final of the Strongest Woman in the Netherlands 2023 will be held on September 17 in Earnewâld, Friesland.