Thank God It’s Friday Yibbi Jansen

During the last Olympic Games in Paris I went to a lot of hockey matches and really became addicted to watching hockey. Especially the national teams of the ladies and the gentlemen, with all those nice girls and guys.

One of the big stars of the Dutch women's team was Yibbi Jansen. She is a penalty corner specialist and the daughter of Ronald Jansen, who was once the goalkeeper of the Dutch national team and won Olympic gold with Oranje. She is literally following in her father's footsteps.

Yibbi is truly a phenomenon. And also a very beautiful, incredibly nice, and stylish young woman. This weekend she starts again with the Dutch team, hoping to write another world championship to their name.

What I find incredibly nice and also very honorable is that Jonna ter Veer, editor at NOS and formerly an editor at Marie Claire, where I was the editor-in-chief, made a beautiful portrait of Yibbi. She sent me a message a few weeks ago to tell me that she had made it and that she was inspired by my videos about the Olympic Games in Paris.

Well, I found that a great honor and especially incredibly nice, because if there is something I enjoy, it is to tell and share. And this is typically one of those cases of sharing something that then has a positive effect for another.

Jonna discreetly sent me a viewing link under confidentiality, so I was able to see the documentary already. And it is truly a beautiful portrait of Yibbi. About what we all know, but what you still feel very well when you see it: that top sports come with pain, sacrifices, and difficult choices.

In Yibbi's case, there was also a difficult period with her then coach Alyson Annan. So difficult that Yibbi at one point decided to step out of the team and not participate in the Olympic Games in Tokyo. That is of course an incredibly heavy step for an athlete who has actually been working her whole life towards something like the Olympic Games.

Fortunately, she returned afterwards. And in Paris, she won gold, under another coach. Alyson Annan was fired shortly after Yibbi stepped out of the team following reports of inappropriate behavior and a culture of fear.

What I also didn't know is that Yibbi's brother had a scooter accident. And that was not long before Paris. The whole family was of course greatly disrupted by this. Yibbi and her brother are incredibly close, almost like twins, and are only a year and a half apart. During his recovery, he even lived with her for a while.

It is just a beautiful story and a beautiful portrait of a top hockey player, but also of the person behind the top athlete.

So I would say: go see it. It will be broadcast three times, on August 14, 15, and 18 on NPO 1: Silence Before the Battle.

And definitely read the very nice interview I had with Yibbi after Paris.

A 10 maybe?

Yibbi, we always start this section with the question of what score you would give your life at this moment. That seems pretty easy in your case. I think something with a 10?
“Maybe I should say a 9.5. I'm actually very happy at the moment, experiencing fun things. Since the Olympic Games, I've only been able to do fun things, with the cherry on top being that I won that award in Oman. And I also passed my exam, haha.”

Best hockey player in the world

You were named the best hockey player in the world in Oman. When did you hear that you were nominated?
“That was somewhere in mid-September, and about three weeks before the actual award ceremony, you would hear whether you had won. I knew when the voting closed and wondered when I would hear something and whether I would hear anything at all if I hadn't won. On such a busy running-and-flying day — I had an exam and a few appointments — I went for a coffee with two friends. Unbeknownst to me, my friends, my parents, my brothers, someone from the press, and a photographer who is always present at important hockey moments were there. Then I immediately knew what was going on.”

And? Party hard?
“I did pop the champagne, but didn't take a sip because I had a match that evening. And no, we didn't win that one. It can't always go our way.”

The award ceremony was in Oman and you went there with your mother. Was that an easy choice?
“My father and my little brother were traveling in China and my mother was home alone, so I thought right away: it would be nice if she came along, then you can share it together. In the end, we were there for four days in Oman and we had a really nice time. I'm so impressed by that country; it's so beautiful and the people are so kind.”

As a fashion person, I naturally want to know what you wore. It must be nice to shine in something other than your hockey outfit.
“I thought so too. I usually walk around in sportswear and find it extra fun when I can dress up. I ordered this dress especially for the occasion. Let me check what brand it is: Norma Kamali, do you know that? My mother wore a top from Massimo Dutti and a long skirt from BSB Collection. She really loves beautiful things and clothing; I've definitely inherited that from her.”

Your father has also won the Olympic Games twice. It must be special to relive that with your daughter now.
“Yes, that's very special. He won his last Olympics in 2000, not that long ago. He was on the team with Thierry Brinkman's father, who has also won gold with the men's team. I also went to the Olympic Games in London with my father and thought it was amazing to see. Experiencing that myself now is so special. I'm also preparing for the Los Angeles Games in 2028, which I hope to participate in.”

You combine top hockey with your studies in financial management. Is that manageable?
“I think it's easier to combine than a job with top hockey. I've already completed my bachelor's degree and I'm now continuing with my master's. I paused my studies for the Olympics, but now I've picked it up again. I live comfortably in Amsterdam and play for SCHC in Bilthoven. That's only half an hour's drive, and I often carpool with teammates who also live in Amsterdam. Ultimately, I really think Amsterdam is the best city to live in right now.”

How did all that happen?

Forgive me if I fill in too much, but you dropped out for the Tokyo Olympics because you and the then-coach Alyson Annan were not the best match. During the final in Paris, you played against China with Annan as coach. Did that make the match extra loaded, or are you such a super professional that you rise above that?
“The final was loaded anyway because it was the Olympic final and because we could really only lose. For China, it was already an unprecedented achievement to be in the final, so they were much more relaxed than we were, whose expectations were so high. As for Alyson Annan, when we heard we were playing against China in the final, I did think for a moment: I'm curious what she will pull out of her hat. But I wasn't really focused on that. The coach isn't on the field, and we had already played against China earlier in the Olympics, so I could just focus on the match itself. Although it was an incredibly tense final.”

How wonderful to have won so deservedly after the 2020 Olympic Games. And in January, you're going to India to play there for two weeks?
“Definitely. And before that, in two weeks, we're going to Argentina with the national team. The Pro League starts there, and we're first a week in Buenos Aires and then in Santiago del Estero. What's also nice is that Freeke Moes is also going to India and plays in the same team. She is really one of my dearest friends, and I can travel very well with her. Before the Olympics, we also went to Ibiza together to recharge.”

Back to this section: Thank God it’s Friday. It’s 5:00 PM on Friday afternoon. Where are you, what are you doing? There’s probably no cocktail in your glass?
“On Friday afternoon at five o'clock, I'm at the hockey club SCHC, where I train until 7:00 PM. After that, we eat together and I go home. This Friday, I'm going to do something fun with friends because I have a birthday next week, but usually, I'm tired afterward and dive onto the couch.”

What does your Saturday look like?
“I find Saturday a lovely day. I meet up with friends for coffee and enjoy walking through the city. By the end of the afternoon, I like to be home, do a bit of cooking, and watch a movie on the couch with my housemate. And go to bed on time because I have a match again on Sunday.”

For many people, Saturday is busy and Sunday is a day of rest. For you, it's probably the other way around?
“On Sunday, I always have a match. We usually play at 12:45, and I go to the club around 10:30. Before that, I get up slowly, stretch a bit, and drink coffee. After the match, we always stay at the club for a bit, and when I get home, I'm really tired. Usually, I don't feel like cooking anymore, we order food, and I go to bed on time because I train again with the national team on Monday.”

What music do you like to listen to? Was there a song that reminds you of Paris?
“In Paris, our song was really ”Back in Time' by Yves Berendse. On the bus to the stadium, we always listened to that, and during the award ceremony, Yves Berendse sang that song for us. That will always be linked to that memory. 'Black Friday (pretty like the sun)' also reminds me of Paris; we played that when we warmed up in the Olympic village. To get pumped up for a match, I like to listen to Fred Again, but my taste in music is broad. I also love Adele, Burna Boy, and the piano music of Einaudi, and when I like something, I listen to Spotify radio of a song to discover new things.”

Suppose, flight shame, time difference, and money are no issue. What does your ideal weekend look like?
“Maybe I would go to Spain. If it were a long weekend, I would want to fly to Ibiza to sunbathe and eat. When I was there with Freeke for the Olympic Games, we kept it very relaxed. Now I would like to also catch a party there.”

What books are on your stack?
“In Oman, I had ”Things You Only See When You Take Time for Them.' I also had 'The Diary of a CEO' with me. Before the Olympics, I was just training and not studying, so I had more space to lose myself in a book. I also read 'It Ends With Us' and 'It Starts With Us,' and 'The Night Rose' by Lucinda Riley, so beautiful.”

What is on your wish list of restaurants you would still like to go to?
“I always save tips in my Google Maps for restaurants I still want to eat at. Now I would like to go to Entrepot in Amsterdam, and on Sunday, I'm going to eat at Massalia in Amsterdam-East for my birthday.”

And then just your favorites:
Favorite music album? Actual Life by Fred Again 1, 2, and 3
Favorite beauty product? Deep Repair Treatment hair mask by Lernberger Stafsing
Favorite piece of clothing? Just got a new pair of jeans from Lois, the Paloma Relaxed Fit, and a nice mid-season jacket from Rohe
Favorite perfume? Mostly Salle Privée from Skins