This is me:
I am a dutch biathlete and cross-country skier. My name is Jon Einar Mattias Visser, and I like to get better in what I do. I am 17 years old currently and my ultimate goal is to be an Olympic gold medalist once in my life, but that dream is still far away. It would mean the world for me, as no dutch person has achieved even anything close to that in biathlon or cross-country skiing.
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In the Netherlands these sports are not known among many people, so it is very hard to become a professional in those sports. That is why I have moved with my family to Austria.
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Since this year I had the opportunity to go to school in Norway, and there the conditions are even better than in Austria. I attend the Videregående Skole in Meråker where conditions are one of the best. A lot of good cross-country skiers, as well as biathletes, have attended this school, and this together with the experienced trainers makes it a great place to train. I also participated in a lot of races, from which I got a lot of experience as well.
One of them was a 28km race in which Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, who is the current world and one-time Olympic champion in the sprint, participated in. I was not even that far behind: Just about 19% was the difference. This year I got also three third places overall at the Dutch championships in Austria. I was much closer behind the overall winner, with 3% at my best race, and this shows the difference between the Norwegian and the Dutch level, which is remarkably low if you compare it, even when you include the fact that Klæbo is not even a long distance cross-country skier.
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I would like to train more to close the gap between me and Klæbo so that I can be an Olympic and/or World champion one day. That is why I want to stay here at this school in Meråker because this gives me a once in a lifetime opportunity to combine school and sport.
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But there is one downside to this: Cross-Country Skiing/Biathlon costs a lot of money with all the equipment, traveling and its training. That on its own is already expensive. On top comes the cost of the apartment in Norway, as well as the training at school, has some additional costs (trainers need a salary too ;) ).
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About a year ago my father had an eye operation and couldn't work. He actually got fired the first day he could work again, and that was a shock for us. Even with his job, our family would be tight on money, but now it is even more difficult for them to support me.
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Therefore I need your help to get to reach my goals. My family still lives in our house in Austria. My initial plan was a gap year, but if I want to be a professional, I would have to stay here in Norway and that means it will cost extra money. My mom has actually spent her savings in my first year of school here so that I could have the best year of my life. If I want to stay here I need about 600€ per month minimum, in addition, there will be costs for traveling and equipment. Together will my initial goal be about 10.000€.
Every amount helps, if you do not honor the little, you are not worth the big!
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