Paralympic swimming champion Marc Evers: ‘I start from possibilities, not limitations’

Marc Evers is the Netherlands' most successful Paralympic swimming champion and ambassador of the Dutch Autism Association (NVA). We spoke to Marc, his father Frank and his sister Amber about his path to gold and the prejudices and setbacks the family has overcome.

Marc was born in Hillegom in 1991 and was diagnosed with autism and an intellectual disability at the age of two. His parents had to take into account that he would never learn to talk, read, write, let alone function independently in society.

Marc's parents Frank and Gitty Evers did not leave it at that. As the second in a family with four children, they always encouraged Marc as much as possible to 'just' participate in the family, despite the many stimuli, which were difficult for him to filter. Frank and Gitty turned every moment into a learning moment. Frank: ‘Marc was very eager to learn and wanted to move forward. Little by little he learned the basic skills'.

Marc obtained his swimming diploma with a lot of one-on-one attention. Marc: 'Around the age of eleven I started to realize that I was pretty good at it, I was the best.' At first Marc competed on people with disabilities, but he wanted more. To get better, he had to compete with swimmers without disabilities. At the regular swimming clubs in the region they refused him, without wanting to meet him, without seeing his talent. Finally, Wim ten Wolde of swimming club ZV Haerlem gave him a chance. To keep up, he had to train more often and for longer. Marc: 'I pushed myself, had to make sacrifices.'

At a young age Marc came into contact with prejudices when you are 'different'. Getting a chance and having someone who believes in you can really make all the difference. ‘Since then I have learned that if people have prejudices, that’s their problem,’ Marc says.

Coach Ten Wolde was clear in his communication, strict, relaxed and had previously swam competitions himself. That was exactly what Marc needed. Marc has two positions, full throttle and no throttle and a coach has to match that in the right way.

Marc decided to devote himself completely to swimming. ‘That was quite a risk, because in society you need a diploma for everything. But I saw it as an opportunity.' And not without result. At the age of seventeen he swam his first European Championship and in 2011, at the age of twenty, Marc was awarded the ‘A’ status as a top athlete.

Paralympic swimmer Marc Evers at the Brunel office.