My name is Elise van Es and I am 20 years old and I am from the Netherlands. I have cerebral palsy and a autoimmune disease. I started wheelchair racing in 2016. I came in contact with wheelchair racing on a paralympic talent day in 2016. I went there because I was no longer allowed to play wheelchair basketball due to a autoimmune disease.

On the talent day I was scouted for athletics and after three return days I was told in March 2017 that I was included in the Dutch talent team. Then I went to train once a month at Papendal and I also trained three times a week at my own athletics club. Once I got my own racing wheelchair, my times progressed so much that I was allowed to train once a week at Papendal, so my technique improved quickly. In 2018 I eventually trained three days a week with the talent team at Papendal.

With the talent team I went to the grand prix in Berlin and I was internationally classified as T33. At the grand prix of Berlin I won gold once and silver twice. Shortly afterwards I was invited by the English Athletics to participate in the Muller Anniversary Games in the Olympic stadium in London, here I was allowed to race against the top of the T34. This was the most fun moment in my sport so far. Now that I am almost four years further, I am Dutch champion in the 100, 200 and 400m and I have Dutch records in the 100, 200, 400 and 800m. In 2018 and 2019 I was number 1 in the world rankings in my T33 class.

I never expected this when I was scouted 2016. I am proud to have achieved all this. In addition to wheelchair racing, I now also do shot put and I hope to achieve good results in this as well. I wonder what the future will bring for me because my ultimate goal is to one day reach the paralympic games.