Kammala wannan jumla: Thijs ya fara a fagen kasa da kasa a lokacin
Gasar Zakarun Turai ta 2002 a Berlin. Babban nasarar Van Valkengoed shine lashe lambar tagulla a tseren mita 200 a gasar tseren Turai ta 2003 a Dublin, Ireland. A farkon wannan watan ya cancanci shiga wasannin Olympics na bazara na 2004 tare da rikodin ƙasa a tseren mita 100 da mita 200. A wasannin Olympics an fitar da shi a wasan kusa da na karshe na tseren mita 100, da kuma tseren mita 200.