In February, the Tokyo 2020 Olympian qualified for her second Games, alongside twin sister Bregje, after securing Free silver at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha.

Just eight weeks later, though – and less than four months before Paris 2024 – Noortje was admitted to hospital after collapsing.

She was suffering from dehydration and blood tests soon confirmed the 25-year-old had type-1 diabetes, a chronic condition where the pancreas makes little or no insulin.

“If I think back, then already before Doha I had some symptoms, as I was super thirsty, couldn’t stop drinking and had to pee a lot,” she tells World Aquatics.

“I thought it was just all the hard work we were putting into training as artistic swimming is not an easy sport, but I felt that my body was losing some strength and I had passed out (during a training camp) some months before.”

The presence of “super high” glucose levels in her blood sample meant injections of insulin would now become part of her daily routine, but establishing the correct dosage takes time.

Image Source: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Despite a heavily impacted training schedule, in June the sisters became European champions for the first time; winning both the Technical and Free events at Belgrade 2024.

“When I hear what was happening with my health, I was like, ‘Okay, is this affecting Paris?’ but all the doctors were saying a lot of people (elite athletes) can do everything with diabetes,” recalls Noortje.

“For this competition (European Championships) there was still doubting if we would swim both routines though.”

Bregje added; “it (the diagnosis) had a huge impact on our training situation and also for her health so we had to be careful and couldn’t train as much as we wanted, but yeah we can say that she is mentally super, super strong and I’m super proud of her.”

Noortje continued: “I’ve learned that your body can do more than you think if your mind is in the right place.”

The Dutch duet will be looking to make further history for their nation at Paris 2024 and become the first-ever artistic swimmers from the Netherlands to claim an Olympic medal.

Image Source: Clive Rose/Getty Images

They were ninth at the Tokyo 2020 Games, but are now among a group of nations who have taken full advantage of the new opportunities created by the new rules, which were introduced late in 2022.

Now, in addition to traditional powerhouse China as well as regular major medallists Japan and Spain, the likes of Great Britain, Austria, Canada and the Netherlands have emerged as genuine Paris 2024 podium contenders.

“For many years we dreamed about being here (at the top of the sport), but while I don’t want to say the old rules were ‘unfair’, the new rules have brought more objectivity into the sport,” the Netherlands’ head coach Esther Jaumà Cayuela tells World Aquatics.

“Now we can show what we’re able to do despite maybe not having standard bodies, or legs or feet that in the past were more valued, so we can show that with different styles, bodies and different everything we can still be the best ones and do great, great things.”

Image Source: Bregje de Brouwer and Noortje de Brouwer celebrate silver after the Women's Duet Free at the World Aquatics Championships - Doha 2024 (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

The victory in the European Championships Free final saw Noortje and Bregje de Brouwer claim the Netherland’s first-ever duet continental title, while it was also the nation’s first Euro gold in the sport for nearly 50 years.

With a maiden World honour also secured earlier in 2024 and Noortje confident of managing her medical condition, the sisters will now enter Paris 2024 as Olympic medal contenders for the first time.

“I think in the Netherlands they are even more surprised than us because our sport is small, but everyone is amazed and so excited about it,” continues Jaumà Cayuela.

“Of course, now everyone is asking for more and more, like more for the Olympics which is also pressure, but I think it’s nice pressure and we’re very happy.”

The duet will begin their Paris 2024 programme with the Technical event on 9 August, before taking on the Free final the following day.

Image Source: Adam Pretty/Getty Images

At the Olympic Games scores from the two disciplines are combined to form an overall score and the ultimate top-three rankings for the podium places.

“I think it will be a super nice Olympic Games,” Bregje de Brouwer tells World Aquatics.

“We weren’t in Tokyo of course, but this time our whole family and a lot of friends are coming to see us compete and it’ll be the first time they’re all together in the stands which will make it a special one for sure.”

Noortje adds; “For the first time we are really thinking about having real chances for the medals.

“We have to work hard, but we hope we can battle with a lot of countries to reach the podium.”