Dee ihe ọzọ maka paragraf a - A mụrụ Van Koeckhoven na Ghent ma mesịa kwaga Zelzate. Na 1991, ọ malitere igwu mmiri n'otu klọb. Ihe ịga nke ọma mbụ ya bụ ọla nchara na 200 m freestyle na 1997 European Youth Olympic Festival na Lisbon. N'afọ na-eso ya, o meriri ọla nchara abụọ ọzọ, na 100 m na 200 m freestyle na European Junior Swimming Championships. Site n'afọ 1999 ọ gbara asọmpi oge niile wee ruo asọmpi ikpeazụ na asọmpi egwuregwu mmiri nke Europe n'afọ 1999
, ọzọkwa n'ọsọ 200m freestyle. Nsonaazụ ya kacha mma bịara na 2000 mgbe ọ meriri nrite abụọ nke Europe wee gafere nhọrọ Olympic.