After serious BMX accident, Van Gorkom helps others with brain injuries: ‘Extremely valuable’

• Jip van den Berg

  editor NOS Sport

It is a busy morning at Papendal, the heart of Dutch top sport. This is where athletes like Femke Bol lay the foundation for their medals. Jelle van Gorkom (32) also came here every day to train. Until a serious accident in 2018 put an abrupt end to his career as a BMX rider.

Van Gorkom, winner of Olympic silver in 2016, was in a coma for a long time and suffered brain damage. Now he helps other people who, like him, have ‘rehabilitated’, but still suffer from brain damage.

While athletes look for the last parking spot and hurriedly walk to their training facilities, there is a different atmosphere in one of the sports halls at Papendal. Here it is not about competition or performance, but about the process of recovery, patience and perseverance.

It is half past nine when the first participants from the Jelle van Gorkom Training Center trickle in. ‘It always seems impossible until it’s done‘, it says on the wristbands they wear. These are not top athletes, but people who suffer from the consequences of non-congenital brain injury due to a cerebral hemorrhage, brain tumor or traumatic accident.

For a month now, they have been coming to Papendal twice a week to work on their recovery after rehabilitation under the guidance of Van Gorkom and a team of specialists. From half past ten in the morning to four o’clock in the afternoon.

Upon arrival, each participant receives a playing card with a specific assignment. “Remember this card carefully, because you will need it later.” The playing card poses a subtle challenge: throughout the day, participants must remember the card and an associated assignment. It’s one of the many ways their brains are stimulated today.

How is Van Gorkom himself doing? “I’m always trying to improve,” he says. “I still go to physio twice a week and I continue to challenge my brain. And I just bought a new racing bike. Although my left arm and leg don’t always do what I want, I continue to make progress.”

While Van Gorkom supervises an interval training on the bike, he proudly talks about his project. The training center is a reflection of his own search for recovery.

His years of rehabilitation took him to the United States, among other places, but after a number of years he was no longer treated. Yet he is still continuing his recovery. “Rehabilitation never stops. I wanted to achieve more, even after I was declared ‘finished’.”

The training day at Papendal is intensive, but the atmosphere remains relaxed and friendly. While half of the group exerts themselves physically, the other participants play ‘braingames‘: cognitive games that stimulate brain activity. Between the activities there is meditation with breathing exercises and there is room for a special sports massage.

Because the center is still in a pilot phase, the rooms are facilitated by Papendal and the entire guidance staff consists largely of volunteers. One of them is Rob van Scherpenseel (63), who was one of the first participants in the project last year. Due to a serious collision in 2022, he suffered a partial high spinal cord injury.

The guidance in the training center has yielded him a lot. “I can now use my arm and leg properly again and can drive a car again after driving lessons.” His dream is to one day be able to get on his beloved motorcycle again: “In the hospital they thought I had something loose when I said that.”

The future of the training center is still uncertain, but Van Gorkom is determined. “We assume it will be successful,” he says with a smile. He hopes that people with brain injuries can still make new steps in their recovery after their rehabilitation. “If we succeed, we can become a name in the world of brain rehabilitation.”

Meanwhile, Van Gorkom walks to one of the participants. “Do you remember what your ticket was?” he asks. After a short pause for thought, the participant’s redeeming answer comes: “That must be the 10 of spades!”