She definitely doesn’t have a boring life. Demi van den Wildenberg is working hard as an athlete and is also studying at Utrecht University. Where the 23-year-old from Helmond also goes like a rocket is on social media. On Instagram, for example, she has 121,000 followers. “I just post stuff and apparently my followers like it.”
Hundreds of followers are added every month on Instagram, but also on TikTok. “And even though it started as a joke. I was with the Dutch relay team and we posted a video that, to our surprise, went viral. After that it went very fast, I have no explanation for it. I have always enjoyed working with social media and regularly post videos and photos.”
Her popularity has made her increasingly attractive to sponsors. “I am completely free in what I post, it often comes to me spontaneously. I now have a management team around me for business matters. They take care of everything, so I don’t have to worry about it.”
“I definitely don’t see this as work.”
Her hobby ensures that some money flows into the Helmond community. “The fact that I earn something from this is of course a bonus. And that with something that I absolutely do not see as work. This means I don’t have to worry financially and I can fully focus on top sports and my studies. Although I also have a job at a running store on Sundays.”
“I prefer to participate individually in major tournaments.”
Sport is Demi’s number one priority. She is fast, very fast. For example, in the 60 meters indoors, she already won silver and bronze at the National Championships. She is a serious candidate for the relay team in the 100 meters outdoors. “I would prefer to participate individually in major tournaments, but that is not yet realistic. Ultimately, it is my goal and I am on the right track. For the time being, I am focusing on the relay team, which is also a nice challenge.”
“Studying is an outlet for me.”
Anyone who thinks she has time to chill after and between her training sessions will be disappointed. After previously studying Commercial Economics at the Johan Cruyff Academy, she is now in the third year of the Law course. She is following the minor in Juvenile Crime and Youth Protection. “I think it is very important to do something besides the sport. It is also an outlet for me.”
The combination of top sport and school is busy, but the Helmond resident enjoys it. “It’s a matter of good planning. At the University they think along with me, because running obviously requires a significant investment of time. No, I certainly don’t want to be bored.”
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