Whakakihia te rerenga e whai ake nei: I tīmata a Thijs ki te atamira o te ao i roto i te
2002 Pākehā Aquatics Championships i Berlin. Ko te whakatutukitanga nui a Van Valkengoed ko te wikitoria i te mētara parahi i te 200 m breaststroke i te European Short Course Swimming Championships 2003 i Dublin, Ireland. I te timatanga o taua marama i tohu ia i a ia ano mo te 2004 Summer Olympics me nga rekoata a motu i te 100 m me te 200 m breaststroke. I nga Orimipia i whakakorea ia i nga hawhe whakamutunga o te 100 m breaststroke, me nga wera o te 200 m breaststroke.