How Lisenka Bomas combines studies, elite sport and an Olympic dream
How do you combine an Olympic ambition with a degree and a calendar packed with international tournaments? For TeamNL curler Lisenka Bomas, that’s everyday reality. The 22-year-old has just returned from the European Championships with TeamNL women and, together with Wouter Gösgens, forms the mixed doubles duo currently aiming to qualify for the Olympic Games.
From holiday sport to World Championship ice
Lisenka discovered curling through her father, who took her and her sister to the rink during holidays. As she grew older and training schedules became easier to manage, she started playing more seriously. Within two years, she was competing at her first mixed doubles world championship alongside her father. Later, mixed doubles became her main disciplin, first with her father and, for the past three years, with Wouter Gösgens. Together, they qualified for the mixed doubles qualifier event and then for the world championship.
Setbacks and the road back
The path to the top wasn’t without obstacles. At a young age, she was passed over for the mixed doubles world championship because she wasn’t ready yet. That disappointment coincided with a tough period: moving to The Hague, COVID, an injury, and worries about a loved one. It led to depression and a break from mixed doubles. Since March 2025, she’s back with a new goal: the Olympic qualification tournament and the Games themselves. She now lives in a high-performance sports house with other athletes.
Combining studies and elite sport
Alongside her sporting career, Lisenka is studying human and technology - movement technology. For her minor, she combines sports coaching with a pre-master in human movement sciences. A typical week is intense: sometimes three training sessions a day and twenty hours of study per week. She adapts her studies to her sporting goals. Sports coaching offers flexibility, but for her pre-master she postpones exams until March. She’s learning to prioritise and set boundaries: investing in her dream sometimes means skipping lectures and making time for mental support.
Growing together with teamNL women
With TeamNL women, Lisenka aims to move up to the A division. The team is progressing quickly: last year they were promoted from C to B and immediately reached the semi-finals. Much of this growth comes from independence, as they often trained without a coach. Recently, mental support has been introduced, helping the team communicate more openly and honestly. This creates a better high-performance environment.
Chasing the Olympic dream
A year ago, the door to the Olympics seemed closed. She worked hard but saw little progress—until an unexpected phone call in February opened new opportunities. For Lisenka, competing at the Games would be the ultimate reward after a period full of challenges.
Her partnership with Wouter Gösgens feels natural. With busy schedules, they train together whenever possible and occasionally play matches as preparation. Their goal is clear: Olympic qualification.
After the European Championships, Lisenka flew straight to Canada to prepare for the Olympic qualification tournament. The ice there is better, allowing her to train at the highest level. Right now, Wouter and Lisenka are competing in Kelowna for that Olympic ticket, hoping to turn her dream into reality.
Looking ahead
Earlier this year, Lisenka spent several months in Canada for her research internship and training with Olympic medallist Shannon Kleibrink. In five years, she hopes to have completed her studies and still be competing at the top level. Whether she becomes a coach, moves into sports psychology, or works more broadly in sport is something she’ll decide later. One thing is certain: she wants to make curling bigger in the Netherlands.
Whatever happens in Kelowna, Lisenka will keep building her dream and the sport. Because for her, elite sport is about more than winning. It’s about growing, learning and inspiring.
