Olga Commandeur (64) retires The Netherlands in motion. In 23 years, the presenter provided about 4500 broadcasts of the program that has been broadcast by Omroep MAX since 2008. “I stop at the peak,” she says. “Partly due to corona, the program is more popular than ever and not just among the elderly.”
Friday 26 May is the last regular broadcast with Olga Commandeur, who looks back on a period in which she did the program ‘with passion and pleasure’. “I hoped that was the case. But I’m almost 65, I’m still perfectly healthy and I want to enjoy life even more with my husband: travelling, hiking, golf, the children and grandchildren,” said the presenter who is currently on TV with her husband Frank in Race Across The World. In that adventure program they travel from Mexico City to Ushuaia without a debit card, without a telephone and without an airplane.
In the latest issue of MAXMagazinewhich comes out today, says former athlete Olga Commandeur that in 23 years The Netherlands in motion ‘got more and more physical problems’. “Last year of recording I became increasingly nervous in the run-up to the recordings. We record broadcasts for a whole year in three weekends in a row. So then you have to be super fit without injuries. The pressure became so high that I thought: maybe it’s time to let someone else do it.”
‘Of course I started thinking about death’
A few years ago, Commandeur was confronted with a preliminary stage of breast cancer. A mastectomy followed. “When death comes so close, you look at life differently. I have now had five surgeries. All of that played into my decision. I knew I had to have a few more surgeries for recovery. And yes, of course I started thinking about death, but I’ve never been afraid of that. I will therefore be disappointed if I do not reach my nineties.”
“After the amputation it was no longer about my chest, but about myself. When I first saw my mutilated right side in the mirror, I thought, wow, that’s me. Then I shed a tear. But I was able to continue right away, like: it’s going to be beautiful again. Those are the moments when life is a learning experience. I chose a prosthesis in the rush and from the moment that balloon was in it, I suddenly realized: I do have a prosthesis now, but I don’t want that at all. Fortunately, by chance I was able to participate in a research into body fat transplantation to reconstruct the breast. I am in that process now.”
Off the couch
After the last broadcast on May 26, reruns will follow, after which the new season will start on Monday, September 4 The Netherlands in motion starts. Omroep MAX is looking for a successor to Commandeur, who will continue to work with activities in the country at healthcare institutions, companies and associations. She also remains an ambassador for the Elderly Fund to encourage people to get and keep moving. Duco Bauwens, with whom she presents together, stays with her The Netherlands in motion.
Director Jan Slagter of Omroep MAX understands Commandeur’s decision and praises her work: “A few days per season, recordings of The Netherlands in motion. But I know from Olga that she was working on it all year. Coming up with exercises, making sure she stayed fit herself. We would like to thank Olga very much for that. Thanks to her, many people get off the couch to do exercises.”
Also listen to the AD Media Podcast below or subscribe via Spotify or itunes. Find all our podcasts at ad.nl/podcasts.
Watch our Show & Entertainment videos below:
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and don’t miss a thing of the stars.