Dee ihe na-aga n'ihu na paragraf a - Thijs bidoro na mba ụwa n'oge 2002 European Aquatics Championships
na Berlin. Nnukwu ihe Van Valkengoed rụzuru bụ mmeri ọla nchara na 200 m breaststroke na European Short Course Swimming Championships 2003 na Dublin, Ireland. Na mbido ọnwa ahụ, ọ tozuru oke na 2004 Summer Olympics na ihe ndekọ mba na 100 m na 200 m breaststroke. N'egwuregwu Olimpik, a chụpụrụ ya na ọkara ikpeazụ nke 100 m breaststroke, na okpomọkụ nke 200 m breaststroke.