I’m incredibly proud and grateful to have represented Tilburg University once again on one of the world’s biggest student-athlete stages — the FISU World University Games in the Rhine-Ruhr region, Germany.

This unforgettable event brought together over 8,500 student-athletes from more than 100 countries. Competing at this level is already a privilege — but I was especially honoured to be chosen as flagbearer for the Netherlands 🇳🇱 during the spectacular opening ceremony in Duisburg. That moment, standing under the lights and carrying our flag, is one I will carry with me for life.

The atmosphere, the sportsmanship, and the friendships built during these 12 days made it a truly enriching experience. I embraced every moment — both on and off the mat.

My Match

In my opening match, I faced a strong opponent from Thailand. It was an intense, back-and-forth fight that went the full distance. After three hard-fought rounds, I lost 1–2.  While it was disappointing to miss out on progressing further, my opponent went on to win the gold medal, which underlines the level of competition at this tournament.

Huge thanks to Studentensport Nederland for their outstanding organisation, and to Rafik Zohri and Hamza El Baroud for their great coaching.
And of course, thank you to Tilburg University, CurrentWerkt, UnitedConsumers, and Nihon Sport Nederland for their continued, sponsoring, support and trust. Thanks to you, I’ve been able to create another unforgettable chapter in my combined academic and athletic journey.

With this, the 2024–2025 season comes to an end — but my motivation is as strong as ever. 

Here’s to new challenges, new goals, and more growth ahead! 

📸Maarten Groot

I’m proud to announce that I’ve recently gained the support of a remarkable new sponsor: CurrentWerkt!

It means a great deal to be backed by an organization that believes in opportunity, perseverance, and the power of people. These are exactly the same values that have shaped my journey as a top athlete. High-performance sport is not just about physical achievements, but also about character, recovery, and resilience – qualities that are also central to the work of CurrentWerkt.

CurrentWerkt is a social employer that helps people who face barriers to employment make a fresh start. Think of people who have been out of the workforce for a while, or former inmates working to get their lives back on track. Through personal guidance, tailored support, and real opportunities, they create new perspectives. And with impressive results: sustainable reintegration into work and a significant drop in recidivism.

As a lawyer, I understand how important it is that everyone has a right to a second chance. And as an athlete, I know how vital it is to have someone who believes in you – especially when you're trying to rise again. That social mission of CurrentWerkt deeply resonates with me. Because what they do is also elite sport: building trust, development, and future – day in, day out.

This partnership with CurrentWerkt means more to me than just support on the road to my Olympic dream. It’s a collaboration that stands for something greater: for fair chances, social justice, and making an impact together.

Grateful and motivated, I look forward to everything we will achieve together!

#TeamAymen #CurrentWerkt #NewOpportunities #OlympicDream #SportWithPurpose #SponsorshipNews #StrongerTogether #EqualOpportunities #SocialImpact

Yesterday (June 26), I had the opportunity to represent SportheldenOpSchool at Ahoy Rotterdam during the Final Special – a vibrant sports day for primary school students from grades 5 to 8. A full day of movement, fun, and new discoveries. Several schools from Rotterdam and surrounding areas were present, and Ahoy was transformed into a giant sports playground with more than 22 different activities.

And me? I had the honor of leading taekwondo clinics – something I do with pride and passion, especially when it comes to getting kids excited about this beautiful sport.

New faces, new energy – every 20 minutes

Throughout the day, fresh groups of students joined me on the mat. Every 20 minutes, I stood in front of a new group of curious faces – sometimes a little nervous too: “What exactly are we going to do?” From basic kicks and stances to practicing freely on the pads – the reactions were fantastic. I often heard, “Can we spar already?”

The age range and group sizes varied, which brought a lot of variety and gave me the opportunity to adapt each session just a bit. From quiet, hesitant kids to those who jumped right in with full enthusiasm – everyone found their place on the mat.

From activity to passion?

What really moved me were the kids who were so enthusiastic they didn’t want to leave. Some stayed on the mat with me for almost an hour and a half – even though there were 21 other activities waiting for them! That says something about the power of taekwondo, but also about how important it is to give kids the space to discover what truly excites them.

The most touching moment? A boy who stood on the sidelines at first, unsure and a little reserved. But after just one exercise, he started to smile – and didn’t want to stop. That’s exactly why I do this.

More than just kicks and punches

One thing I always try to teach during a clinic is that taekwondo isn’t just a physical sport. It’s a practice in self-confidence, respect, and control. You learn about yourself. You learn to recognize limits – your own and those of others. And you discover that “fighting” in a sport context means something completely different than it does on the street.

Grateful and proud

Looking back, I feel nothing but gratitude. Thank you to SportheldenOpSchool and Sportbedrijf Rotterdam for the flawless organization. And of course, thank you to all the students, teachers, and supervisors – for your openness, energy, and enthusiasm. It was a privilege to share a piece of my world with you.

Until next time – on the mat or beyond!

– Aymen