by David Weston
The goal for many athletes is similar: To compete in your chosen sport at an Olympic games.
This dream has come true for one Belgian, as Katrien Aerts represented her country in the inaugural women’s freestyle skiing half-pipe competition in Sochi yesterday (20 February).
But in order for this fantasy to become a reality, on top of being dedicated to her sport, Katrien also spends half of the year living in a caravan just outside the Belgian town of Maaseik.
Katrien, 37, must travel to train for her sport, as there are no mountains in Belgium, so in order to afford her training and travel to competitions across the globe, she and her boyfriend spend the summer in a caravan to save money.
“I try to live as a low a budget as possible,” Katrien said, “I can’t rent a home because I’m never home and its costs too much money so I bought myself a caravan.
“It’s a cheap way to live so I can spend all my money on the skiing.
“I have no television and no internet. I just want to ski and skiing gives me a lot more than watching television.”
She added: “It’s very special to be at the Games. You don’t feel like there are big efforts because you’ve got the Olympics and that’s really satisfying. It’s not bad living in a caravan.”
Katrien is the oldest member of the Belgian 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics team but finished 17th in her competition despite being ranked 10th in the World Cup standings.
She admitted that her first Olympics games may also be her last: “These were more than likely be my first and last Games.
“Next year, there is another Worlds, but I do not know if I’m still on. It is becoming increasingly difficult to physically and mentally fit.”
