VAN der HAAR-KRAMP Karin – NED (PVE)

Volleyball was Karin’s sport and when she lost her left arm at age 16, she thought she can still do a lot and play volleyball. In the Netherlands, she was the role model for arm amputated children and adults. She started with WOVD/WPV in Hungary in 2007, when the trainer from the women’s sitting volleyball team asked if she would join their team.

“As a person I stand out because of my energy, my enthusiasm and my ability to enthuse others. In addition, I am structurally oriented, but I can also think ‘out of the box’. I am socially involved and compassionate. I like to work in a team, but I can also work very well independently. In addition to my social career, I have had a second career as a top athlete for a long time (2007-2018), during which I have been able to participate in three Paralympics in a row with my team, culminating in the Bronze Medal in Beijing in 2008.

“My trainer, Michiel de Ruyter had the greatest influence on my development in the sport. He has put many handles in my ‘backpack’.”

Event involvement as a team spiker, and frequently top scorer:

2007 Hungary – European Championships – Golden Medal
2008 Egypt – International World Cup – Golden Medal
2008 Beijing, China – Paralympic Games – Bronze Medal
2009 Poland – EuroCup – Silver Medal – Best Spiker
2009 Poland – European Championships – Gold Medal
2010 Oklahoma USA – World Championships – 4th place
2010 Egypt – World Cup – Silver Medal
2011 The Netherlands- European Championships – Silver Medal
2012 London, Great Britain – Paralympic Games – 4th place
2013 Poland – European Championships – 4th place – Best Spiker
2014 Elblag, Poland – World Championships – 4th place
2015 The Netherlands – European Championships – Silver Medal – Best Spiker
2016 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Paralympic Games – 6th place
2017 Porec, Croatia – European Championships – Bronze Medal
2018 The Netherlands – World Championships – 8th place

In addition, having set up a club in her hometown, she has been involved in coaching from 2018 until the present.

Official posts held:

Member of the European Athletes Commission – 1-11-2015 till 01-01-2018
Member of the Netherlands Athletes Commission until 2016
Treasurer of the Netherlands Women’s Team until 01-01-2018