Tuhia he haere tonu mō tēnei wāhanga - I whānau a Van Koeckhoven ki Ghent, engari i neke ki Zelzate. I te tau 1991, ka tīmata ia ki te kaukau i roto i tētahi karapu. Ko tana angitu tuatahi o te ao ko te tohu parahi i te 200 m freestyle i te 1997 European Youth Olympic Festival i Lisbon. I te tau e whai ake nei ka wini ia i etahi atu mētara parahi e rua, i te 100 m me te 200 m freestyle i te European Junior Swimming Championships. Mai i te tau 1999 ka whakataetae ia i nga whakataetae auau ka tae ki te whakamutunga i te 1999 European Aquatics Championships
, anō hoki i te 200 m kāhua herekore. I tae mai ona hua pai i te tau 2000 i te wa i wini ai ia i nga mētara Pakeha e rua ana ka haere i te whiringa Orimipia.