Marte Goossen

Hi, I’m Marte Goossen, and this is my journey!

I’m a 15-year-old athlete (•2009) from Belgium, and I have always been passionate about sports. For many years, I dedicated myself to acrobatic gymnastics, competing at the highest level and dreaming big. But in 2022, everything changed when I was diagnosed with Idiopathic Avascular Necrosis in my hip, a rare bone disease that forced me to leave gymnastics and adjust to life in a wheelchair. It wasn’t easy, but I refused to let this disease stop me from doing what I love – moving and pushing my limits.

I explored different sports like wheeling, sit-wake, sit-kite, adapted ice hockey and wheelchair tennis, but then I discovered sit-skiing, and I knew I had found my new passion.

I’m currently working hard to become the best sit-skier I can be. Since April 2024, I’ve been selected as part of the Belgian Paralympic team, training with the goal of representing Belgium in the Paralympics in 2026. I’m proud to be part of this incredible journey alongside my teammates, as you can see in the post shared by the Belgian Paralympic team (image above). The countdown has officially begun!

My journey may have changed, but my ambition to be a top athlete is stronger than ever.

Follow my path as I aim for new heights and keep chasing my dreams!

Sit ski

Skiing became a whole new adventure for me thanks to Sofie Noiron, who introduced me to sit-skiing. I’m so grateful to Kyra Visser and Anvasport for giving me my first opportunities on the slopes en François Stander who believed in my skills and allowed me to train with his WeSki team on the slalom in Belgium.

One of the most memorable experiences was in Livigno, where I had the pleasure of skiing under the guidance of the incredible Davide JJ Cusini and his team, and I learned my first giant slalom moves following the cool tips from Piotr Batko.

From that moment, it became serious again. I got a call from the Belgian (Wallonian) Federation inviting me to train with Jérémie, Rémi, Cezar, Max from the Belgian team. After training and showing what I could do to Stéfan Sazio, the coach from the Belgian team, I was accepted onto the team!

That same year, I also had the chance to train with Geertje Derksen from G-Force and was invited to join a few days of training with the Global Para Race Team by Ralph Jegler. The first big challenge came during the festival Handi Neige in Peisey, where I raced in the French championship together with the fabulous Jesper Saltvik Pedersen and the lovely María Martín-Granizo

Life’s what you make it

Life has a way of surprising us, and while my journey in acrobatic gymnastics had to come to an end, it opened the door to something entirely new: sit-skiing. I’ve learned that a disability doesn’t define what’s possible – it’s just a new way to approach challenges. For me, it’s not about focusing on what I can’t do, but embracing what I can do. Whether it’s on the slopes or in everyday life, I’m ready for a future full of new adventures, goals, and excitement, with or without medals. I refuse to let my disability become a limitation, and I hope to inspire others to see their potential, no matter what obstacles they face. This is just the beginning, and I can’t wait to see where the next adventure takes me!

Thank you

I want to give a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way. From introducing me to new sports, guiding me through training, and believing in my abilities—each of you has made a difference. I’m so grateful to be surrounded by such amazing people who have helped me keep pushing forward, no matter what challenges came my way.