From the stands to the podium: Niels Vink on realising his childhood dream

Watching the London 2012 Paralympics in the stands, a nine-year-old Niels Vink was sure about one thing – that he would one day compete at the Games. He did not play any sports, but he wanted to become one of the best Para athletes in the world.

Nine years later, he did just that at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. The Dutch athlete competed in the quad wheelchair tennis singles and doubles tournaments, bringing home two medals.

“My first Paralympic Games were a dream come true,” the 21-year-old athlete said. “I was in Tokyo, playing for the medals and won gold and bronze.”

Now, he is a four-time Grand Slam singles champion and the reigning world No. 1 in the quad singles rankings. With less than 200 days to go until the Paris 2024 Paralympics, the Dutch champion is looking to repeat his success on the iconic clay courts of Roland-Garros.

Which sport?

Vink lost his legs and fingertips after contracting a bacterial infection when he was one year old. He underwent several surgeries and spent three months in hospital.

“I went to the Paralympic Games just to watch it, and I said, ‘I want to be here one day.’ But my mom said, ‘How are you going to do that?’ because I didn’t play sports at the time,” the Dutch wheelchair tennis player recalled.

“And after that, I tried several Paralympic sports (at a sports day event) – every sport you can imagine; wheelchair tennis, wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball, wheelchair hockey. I liked everything.”

Wheelchair tennis was the third sport Vink tried after the sport day event in the Netherlands. First, he participated in wheelchair basketball and sitting volleyball training, but thought he was too small to properly enjoy them.

Wheelchair tennis turned out to be the perfect fit. He went to a local tennis club to attend a session for people with disabilities.

“We brought a sports wheelchair chair, but I was saying during the whole training that I didn’t want to be in it. But then the last five minutes, I went in it. And then I thought, ‘I can play the game of tennis’ and I was very happy.”

“With my prosthetic legs, I was just able to play the ball over the net. But when I went into the wheelchair, I could play a whole tennis match, just from behind the baseline. That was way more fun.”

He played wheelchair tennis for “fun” for about three years before making his debut on the international circuit in 2016. His career took off from there, topping the junior rankings in January 2019.

First Paralympics 

At the Tokyo 2020 Games, Vink and Sam Schroder beat Australia’s Dylan Alcott and Heath Davidson in straight sets in the final of the men’s quad doubles to claim gold. Two days later, he defeated Japan’s Koji Sugeno in the quad singles bronze medal match to finish on the podium again.

“It was like a dream. From the moment I left home, I enjoyed everything. And when everything happened, I was like, ‘Is this real?’ ‘Is this a dream?’"

There is also another moment that Vink cherishes from his first Paralympics. After winning the doubles tournament, Vink got off his wheelchair and raced on his hands to greet his coach in the stands – the moment went viral on social media, gathering thousands of views on TikTok.

“It was nothing calculated. There was just the Dutch team sitting there (at the stadium) and I wanted to celebrate with them. I saw my coach going down the stairs and I said, ‘Wait, I can go on the stairs to celebrate with him’.”

“So I jumped out of my wheelchair and ran. He helped me to become who I am,” the athlete added. “And that moment, it went viral. I was lucky that someone made a video of it."

To be continued

The Paris 2024 Paralympics will be held from 28 August to 8 September, with wheelchair tennis events taking place on the iconic red clay courts of Roland-Garros, the venue of the French Open.

And Vink is in strong form ahead of his second Games. In 2023, he won his second straight French Open title, before he won the quad singles tournament at the European Para Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Vink says the key to winning gold in Paris is to be strong mentally.

“Of course you have to train very hard, but I think one of the most important parts is to be stable in your mind. You have to train your mind like you train your tennis and your physical,” he said.

“Of course the Paralympic Games are the biggest goal. Paris (2024) is different because these Paralympic Games will be played on Roland-Garros, and I’ve been there twice.”

“This year, without Covid rules, I think it will also be very special with a lot of people watching (in the stands).”

Looking back, Vink wants to show his nine-year-old self that he would go on to compete at the Paralympics. When asked whether Para sport changed his life, he responds with a big smile.

“Yes. In my world, I don’t have a disability because I’m always looking at the positive things, and always look at what I can and not what I don’t get,” Vink said.

"I wouldn't go back to change anything. I'm so happy that I'm able to be an athlete and win so many things. It's amazing."