Sven Mooij
Ahtlete / Coach / President of DTO

When I think back on my experiences at the Flower Cup—of which there have been many— my mind immediately returns to my very first time.

It was Friday, March 14, 1997, and I was 13 years old. The day before the competition. My first international meet ever. It was only 40 kilometers from my home, yet it felt like a completely different world. When I arrived at the Bloemhof, I tried to figure out where I would be jumping. The trampoline was surrounded by 20 or 30 boys, all fighting for a turn—waiting in line wasn't as much of a thing back then as it is now! I remember meeting another Dutch gymnast, Jeroen Kaslander, and making a deal that we would help each other get our turn whenever we could.

The next day, on March 15 (just like this year), I had a great competition and finished 41st. It was a defining moment in my trampolining career, one that left a lasting impression. I remember watching the greats, feeling inspired by Emmanuel Durand, Michael Serth, Karen Cockburn, Anna Dogonadze, and, of course, Alan and Lennard Villafuerte. My mom videotaped the entire competition, and over the years, I must have watched it at least 100 times.

Since then, I have competed in a total of eight Flower Cups, and this year will mark my 10th Flower Cup as a coach. Now that the Flower Cup is coming to an end, I feel somewhat melancholic. It's difficult to accept that there won't be another edition, especially for my athletes. Over the years, many international teams have joined the competition, which sometimes gave our club the incredible opportunity to train with top athletes in the days leading up to the event—athletes like Ji Wallace from Australia and Matthieu Turgeon and Karen Cockburn from Canada. That was an unforgettable experience for a young trampolinist like me.

I look back on the Flower Cup with nothing but great memories, and I truly hope this final edition will be a special one. I want to extend my gratitude to everyone who has been involved in making this event a cornerstone of the trampoline community for so many years. This message also comes on behalf of all the athletes I have coached at this competition. With our club in Alkmaar, we have been organizing the Dutch Trampoline Open every two years (in even years) since 2018. We hope to welcome many of the clubs and athletes who have loved competing at the Flower Cup to Alkmaar in 2026.

Thank you for everything! Everyone involved should be incredibly proud of the legacy you have created and the impact you have had on so many trampolinists.