In the media: Daniel (28) was the last one chosen in gym class. Later he won gold medals: ‘Jiu Jitsu was my salvation’

ROTTERDAMERS
On the schoolyard of the high school, little Daniel de Groot (28) was still the punching bag. Now, on the Jiu Jitsu mat, he fights for gold medals. ”The sport was my salvation."

,‘They call me ’Bunda Branca', the white buttocks. But in Rio de Janeiro, I did win the national title. In the final, I defeated a Brazilian fighter with a d'arce choke around the neck. This cuts off the blood supply to the opponent. They have to tap out, otherwise, they get knocked out.

The gold medal I won in Brazil, where Jiu Jitsu is immensely popular, now hangs prominently in my new gym on the Weena, alongside countless other gold, silver, and bronze medals. When I started with the sport, I didn't think I would become so successful in it.”

The story of Daniel de Groot is part of the series Rotterdammers, in which reporter Marcel Wijnstekers weekly records the life story of a Rotterdammer.

Read the rest of the article here Marcel Wijnstekers:
https://www.ad.nl/rotterdam/daniel-28-werd-als-laatste-gekozen-bij-gym-later-won-hij-gouden-medailles-jiu-jitsu-was-mijn-redding~a9e572b26/