1/2 Lars, Niels, Marcel and Sandra Laros. (Photo: Johan Manders)
With Niels Laros, the Netherlands has a super talent at the World Athletics Championships in the Hungarian capital Budapest. The only 18-year-old Oosterhouter makes a big impression and will be in the final in the 1500 meters on Wednesday evening. Mother Sandra and father Marcel are sitting in the stands and are very proud. “He surprises us every time, these achievements are bizarre.”
After the quarter-final last Saturday, the semi-final followed on Monday, in which Niels conquered a ticket to the final with a Dutch record of 3.32.74. In addition, he ran the limit for the Olympic Games.
“We know he can run well, but what he’s been showing lately is unbelievable. Last month he won two gold medals at the European Under-20 Championship, now he’s in a senior World Cup final. We know that he is only the third Dutchman in the final of the 1500 meters. He is only 18, “said mother Sandra.
“The world gets to know Niels.”
Sandra’s phone exploded after the semi-final. “We were in the stadium, but couldn’t hear the stadium speaker or see the screen properly. When we received messages that Niels had run a national record and an Olympic limit, we were very happy. The whole world is now getting to know Niels, the is special what all this unleashes.”
In the final of the 1500 meters, Wednesday evening at a quarter past nine, the Oosterhouter is the big surprise. “In the semi-finals he ran out of athletes whose posters he used to hang in his room. A few years ago he was still asking autographs from the runners he has now beaten or will meet.”
In terms of times he is not one of the favorites for the world title, but anything can happen in top sport. “He had the twelfth time of the finalists, but I don’t think he will be twelfth. I don’t rule out anything with Niels, he goes for the highest achievable from the start. We are proud anyway, whatever he will run.”
“Niels is relaxed and exudes self-confidence.”
You would think that a World Cup debutant would walk around with a lot of nerves in his body. “We were able to speak to him in Budapest on Monday and he came across as very relaxed. Niels is relaxed, exudes self-confidence and especially enjoys running at this World Cup. He does not think in terms of limitations and always has a positive attitude.”
Niels no longer lives in Oosterhout, because last year he left for Papendal to train there full-time. His two year older brother Lars is also a talented athlete and lives in America where he studies and runs with a university team. Sandra: “Lars is his brother’s biggest fan. He accompanied us to the European Championships in Jerusalem, but is following the World Cup at home in America.”
Niels and Lars didn’t get their love for athletics from strangers. Mother and father used to be good athletes at national and even international level. Both are in any case with the necessary nerves in the stadium of the Hungarian capital. A fun fact is that Sandra was also in the stands in Budapest 25 years ago, but then at the European Athletics Championships in which her husband participated.
