Koen’s Story

The general public got to know Koen in 2018 when he became European Champion at the Berlin marathon. However, Koen has been a fixed value at the Belgian and European top for years, first on the track and in cross country, then also in the king’s number: the marathon.

Koen ‘the Family Man’

Koen is lucky that he can spend every day doing the thing he’s most passionate about: running. But he couldn’t do this without his lovely wife, Elise, who supports him every day. And when Koen comes home after a tough training session, his son Finn and daughter Jade (7 and 3 years old) provide a welcome distraction. Koen can’t imagine a life without his family - even with the interrupted nights. They help him put things into perspective and set the right priorities. His profile of a family man ensures that many people recognize themselves in Koen, and makes him popular with everyone.

Nurse: a passion for care and health

Before Koen became a professional athlete, he worked as a nurse at the burn care center in Neder-Over-Heembeek. His decision to study nursing reinforced his early developed passion for care and health. Koen still feels this passion and determination today. Even though his focus has been entirely on top-class sport, in 2016 Koen didn’t think twice. During the attacks in Brussel on March 22 in 2016, he jumped back into his role as a medical professional to help wherever he could. 

Meditation and preparation

In recent years, Koen has combined his family and training life with several studies. A postgraduate degree in wound care, a postgraduate degree in diabetes education and a master's degree in health promotion. Like many top athletes, Koen has dealt with his fair share of injuries in recent years. Each time he came out stronger. Meditation helps him a lot with this. Thanks to the right mindset and preparation, he manages to find the balance between training, competitions, family and studies. And the results speak for themselves; check out more of his biggest wins and personal bests here.