The city of Arnhem, Netherlands, recently hosted The Nationals CrossFit competition, where athletes of Aruban descent proudly competed and delivered strong performances.
Coach Albertho Bolenius, who is usually a competitor himself, took on a different role this year—supporting his children as their coach. He shared that while he didn’t participate this time, his two children performed exceptionally well. One competed in the Teen category, and the other in the Youngsters division, for athletes under 16 and 18 years old. Both represented Aruba with pride and came close to reaching the podium.
Bolenius explained that he originally got into CrossFit to stay fit as he got older. His children soon took an interest, starting at a young age and quickly advancing in the sport. Now, he coaches and trains them, and was pleasantly surprised by how fast they progressed to the finals of The Nationals CrossFit.
Aila Bolenius competed in the teen girls category. She started off in second place, later dropped to fourth, but didn’t let that discourage her. Her goal was to finish in the top three and make it to the podium. Aila expressed gratitude for her father’s support, saying he’s a strong motivator and a steady presence throughout her journey.
Dario Bolenius participated in the Youngsters category, for athletes under 18. This marked his third CrossFit competition. Last year, he competed in the Teens division, but this year he challenged himself by stepping into a more advanced category with tougher workouts and heavier weights, similar to those of adult competitors.
Another Aruban athlete who proudly represented the island at The Nationals CrossFit was Curtis Quant. Competing alongside the other younger participants, Curtis delivered a strong performance and expressed how honored he felt to wear Aruba’s name in an international setting. In addition to his participation in CrossFit, Curtis shared that he has several other athletic ventures planned for the year, demonstrating his commitment to sports and his drive to continue representing Aruba on various platforms.
Photos courtesy of By US Production & Bolero Advanced Hydration.
