Diede de Groot (NED): Conquering the Courts & Finding Her Voice

Diede de Groot has won 31 majors, is the current world No. 1 in both singles and doubles, and achieved a Golden Grand Slam: winning all four major tournaments in a calendar year (2021). She’s also a force off the court; Diede advocates for people with disabilities and adaptive clothing. “It’s not always easy to find the proper clothing for people with disabilities.”

As Diede has racked up record-breaking wins, she’s become increasingly outspoken about what matters to her. In fact, despite her countless wins, when asked what she’s most proud of, she shared that it’s her personal growth and finding of her voice.

In this episode, we focus on Diede’s commitment to changing the face of disability and adaptive sport. We hear from her childhood role model, Esther Vergeer (7x Paralympic Champion), her manager, Bart van Schijndel and Ian Cropp and Adam Lassner (Citi’s Global Sponsorship Team). We hear how Diede got into wheelchair tennis, her experience AFTER the Tokyo Paralympics, and her hopes for the future.

Production Team’s Favorite Quote: “Tickle yourself a little bit and have a bit of joy every day.”
Why: Diede is the best in her world at what she does, but always makes time for herself and joy every day. This quote reminds us to always take time to find joy in the moment.

Massive shoutout to teammate, Marissa Potter, Director of Brand & Partnerships, for all of her incredible help making this episode.

Contributing Experts include:
-Esther Vergeer (7x Paralympic Champion & Founder, Esther Vergeer Foundation)
-Bart van Schijndel (Diede’s Manager, Founder, Sports Stories)
-Ian Cropp (Global Sponsorship Manager, International Paralympic Committee, Citi)
-Adam Lassner (AVP, Global Sports Sponsorships, Citi)

Audio included from the following sources:
-US Open Tennis Championships’s YouTube Channel: ‘Diede De Groot vs. Yui Kamiji Highlights | 2022 US Open Final’
-Paralympic Games’ YouTube Channel: ‘Diede De Groot wins Best Female Athlete | 2021 Paralympic Sports Awards’
-Runway of Dreams’ YouTube Channel: ‘Runway of Dreams Los Angeles 2022 Fashion Revolution’

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