Top sports

Inspiration through our sports heroes

Top sports is in Team EIFFEL's DNA. What does that mean? We're inspired daily by the best top athletes and coaches in the Netherlands. Their achievements, perseverance, and mentality give us energy and sharpen our focus. Through sports events, clinics, and lectures, we create movement, both mentally and physically.

Top sports and Team EIFFEL

EIFFEL has a rich history with top sports. Think of iconic collaborations with the former basketball club EiffelTowers, swimming team EIFFEL Swimmers Eindhoven, and the still-active Hockey Club AH&BC. Today, everyone within Team EIFFEL benefits from the motivation and inspiration that top sports brings.

Our talent coaches—each one a top athlete or coach—show what it takes to perform under pressure. They help us improve every day, with lessons about collaboration, dealing with setbacks, and sustainable performance. As interim consultants, we apply these lessons directly. For our clients, partners, and colleagues.

EIFFEL is founder of the Top Sports Community and has been closely involved in establishing the foundation since the start together with Pieter van den Hoogenband. Click here to read more about the Top Sports Community.

At Team EIFFEL, top sports means: always staying ahead in mentality.

Our talent coaches

Leading, guiding, inspiring

Our talent coaches are top athletes and coaches with a mission. They challenge, guide, and inspire over 3,500 Team Eiffelaars. We learn from their experience at the highest level and simultaneously support them in their societal career. This way, talent grows on both sides.

Hockey / Director Top sports

Minke Booij

Minke Booij has earned her stripes both on and off the field. She played 227 international matches for the Dutch women's team and won 3 Olympic medals, including gold at the 2008 Beijing Games. After her glorious sports career, Minke applied her expertise as manager of women's football at the KNVB and as director at 'Spieren voor Spieren.' Since 2022, she has been Director Top Sports at Team EIFFEL. Here, she combines her undiminished passion for sports with social engagement and organizational development. Her motto: "You have to do it yourself, but you don't have to do it alone."

Shorttrack / Coach

Jeroen Otter

In the 12 years that Jeroen Otter was head coach of the Dutch short track team, he put this sport on the map with tremendous success at European, world, and Olympic level. He drew on his own experiences as a 4-time world champion in short track relay and his period in the United States as head coach. Since June 1, 2023, Jeroen has been coach of the coaches at the High Performance Team of NOC*NSF. As talent coach at Team EIFFEL, Jeroen uses his expertise and experiences to inspire both internal and external audiences. His motto: "If you believe adventure is dangerous, try routine: it turns out to be lethal."

Swimming / Coach

Jacco Verhaeren

Jacco Verhaeren has made a name for himself as one of the world's most successful swimming coaches. With legendary athletes like Pieter van den Hoogenband, Inge de Bruijn, and Ranomi Kromowidjojo, he achieved multiple Olympic successes. After his impressive period as head coach of the Netherlands, he moved to Australia to lead the Australian swimming team for 7 years to Olympic triumphs, and subsequently did the same with the French swimming team for 3 years. Today, Jacco combines his role as Performance Strategist at the KNZB with his role as Coach at Cycling Team Visma | Lease a Bike. For many years, Jacco has shared his invaluable experience and insights with our professionals and relations as talent coach at Team EIFFEL. His motto: "Collaboration goes beyond working together."

Athletics

Churandy Martina

Churandy Martina competed at his 6th Olympic Games in Paris. Unfortunately, his team on the 4x100m sprint did not progress beyond the heats. The sprint legend, known for his relaxed demeanor and positive energy, reached the Olympic final 5 times. After winning silver at the 2008 Games in the 200m, he was unfortunately disqualified. With his experiences, wisdom, and positive mindset, he inspires professionals and relations at Team EIFFEL. His motto: “A day without laughter is a day wasted.”

Boxing / Motivational speaker

Nouchka Fontijn

With 14 years of experience at the highest level, Nouchka Fontijn has made an impression both in and outside the ring. She won multiple European and world championships, achieved a silver medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and closed her boxing career with bronze at the Tokyo Games. Today, she inspires others as a motivational speaker, moderator, clinic organizer, and talent coach at Team EIFFEL. Her motto: "Pick up on any challenge. No guts, no glory."

Rowing / Coach

Eelco Meenhorst

For years, Eelco Meenhorst coached people in business as CEO of a large logistics company to become stronger, work better, deliver more, and function better as a team. From 2013 to 2025, he did the same as rowing coach, putting the Dutch team back on the world map. His vision is to gather strong people around him and form a team of specialists. In 2024, he received the title 'Coach of the Year' for all his achievements. With his experiences in business and top sports, Eelco inspires. His motto: "People are more important than a plan."

3x3 Basketball / Coach

Aron Roijé

Aron played professional basketball for 15 years, first representing the Dutch 5x5 team and later the 3x3 team. In the final years of his sports career, he combined top sports with his work as a psychologist. When Aron stopped playing in 2021, he got the chance to combine both passions as head coach of 3x3 basketball. The highlight: the thrilling final with an iconic last shot at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, securing gold. Now his focus is on the next challenge: building a new team toward the Los Angeles Games. With his experiences as a player and how he developed into a successful coach, Aron inspires professionals and relations at Team EIFFEL. His motto: "We are not what we do, but who we are."

Baseball / Entrepreneur

Kalian Sams

Kalian Sams has made a name for himself as one of the most successful baseball players in the Netherlands. He played for various top clubs domestically and abroad and has 107 international matches and a world title to his name. He left his mark on baseball and contributed to popularizing the sport in the Netherlands. Today, in addition to training over 80 children, he focuses on inspiring others with his powerful personal story. His motto: "When you feel like quitting, think about why you started."

Swimming / Chef de Mission TeamNL

Pieter van den Hoogenband

Pieter van den Hoogenband is one of the Netherlands' most successful Olympians ever with a total of 7 Olympic medals, including 3 gold. At the Sydney Games in 2000, he won the double in the 100m and 200m freestyle. Four years later, he defended his title in the 100m freestyle in Athens. After his impressive swimming career, he founded the Top Sports Community in collaboration with EIFFEL, of which he is director. He was also Chef de Mission of TeamNL for the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. His motto: "You win or you learn!"

Kitesurfing / Entrepreneur

Jalou Langeree

Jalou Langeree conquered the world with her passion for kitesurfing. As a 3-time world champion, she has pushed the boundaries of the sport and realized her own dreams. The impressive documentary 'Reconnect' was made about her life and its mental impact. Her story, both on and off the water, inspires others to overcome obstacles and choose their own path, regardless of challenges. In addition to her role as kitesurf coach, she shares her valuable insights about the mental aspects of top sports with professionals and relations at Team EIFFEL. Her motto: "You can do, become, or be anything if you believe in it yourself."

Track cycling

Harrie Lavreysen

Harrie Lavreysen is the most dominant track cyclist of this moment. He adds one prize after another to his impressive list of achievements. He won Olympic gold in Tokyo in the sprint and team sprint categories. At the Paris Games, he won 3 gold medals, now also in the keirin category. As talent coach, he shares with professionals and relations at Team EIFFEL how he made that dream a reality and his experiences. His motto: "With a dream without a plan, you won't knock the boards out of the track!"

Track cycling / Coach

Hugo Haak

Hugo Haak has left an indelible impression in track cycling. Not only with his successes as a track cyclist but especially as head coach. His achievements earned him the title 'Coach of the Year' in 2021. His special and highly successful collaboration with top track cyclist Harrie Lavreysen is characteristic of his approach. With his dedication to coaching, he inspires professionals and relations at Team EIFFEL. His motto: "Focus on the process, not the outcome, and you will enjoy great success."

Shorttrack / Coach

Jens van ‘t Wout

At 15, Jens and his family moved from Ontario, Canada, to Sintjohannesga, Friesland. Where he still played ice hockey with his brother in Canada, he ultimately chose a safer alternative: short track. Though the scar on his cheek shows that even that sport isn't without risk. But according to Jens, falling is part of it. He has since grown into one of the world's greatest short track talents. In 2023, he won title after title, and in February 2026, his second Olympic participation is scheduled. In Beijing 2022, he reached the heats and semifinals, but expectations are much higher in Milan. As talent coach at Team EIFFEL, Jens shares how to deal with performance pressure and setbacks, and what Team First, TeamNL Short Track's slogan, truly means to him. His motto: "Don't overthink, just do."

Top sports as inspiration for our clients

Together with our talent coaches, we organize exclusive client sessions. Topics like leadership, collaboration, and coping with setbacks are brought to life, using elite sports as a living example. Inspiration and concrete tools for personal performance.

Team EIFFEL community

Top sports truly inspires when you experience it up close. That's why we share our stories, videos, podcasts, and events. Join the Team EIFFEL community by following us on social media and discover how the top sports mentality drives us daily. Both within Team EIFFEL and with our clients.