My sports roots
Why so crazy about sports? I grew up at the beach, just steps away from Circuit Zandvoort, and on football fields. My father was always busy with football at Stormvogels-Telstar in Velsen, where I was born. My career as a sports reporter also started at First Division club Telstar in 2013, but more about that later. And if you add a mother who’s Miss Fitness, it’s no surprise that your children become sports enthusiasts. We always watched sports on television. As a little girl, I crawled on the couch next to dad to hear him 'coaching' and cheering. From football, to cycling, whole days of Tour de France, ice skating, Olympics, several European and World Cups, boxing, motorsports, darts, you name it. We lived sports at home!
Study and learning the media trade
Ever since I was a child, I knew that I wanted to work in media. That's why I studied Media & Entertainment Management (Journalism and Television). In the final year I combined this education with the Pre Master Policy, Communication & Organization at the VU University Amsterdam. During my studies, I work at the local television channel to gain work experience.
I worked a couple of years as an editor and reporter for a daily live entertainment show at SBS Broadcasting. This is where I learned all the tricks of the media trade, including how to deal with the pressure of multiple daily live shows a day and always being on top of the news. I mainly focused on sports-related content, but I also experienced the stress surrounding Dutch celebrities and world stars.
The first steps as a sports journalist
In 2013, I decided to follow my heart and focus on sports only. I produced a sports TV pilot and had the opportunity to work as a sports reporter for the Jupiler League, First Division football, at RTL7.
Radio & TV station NH contacted me to host a sports talk show in 2014. Hosting NH Sports live from the stadium of football club AZ was a dream come true. After every home football match, I receive several guests from the Dutch sports world and a player or the trainer of AZ on the show.
Onsite live reporting
In 2015, Eurosport asked me if I was interested in hosting the MotoGP. Naturally, as an adrenaline junkie, I seized this opportunity with both hands. And so I had the honor to become Eurosport’s first Dutch presenter. For three years, I flew from circuit to circuit to host the MotoGP, live from the pitlane, and talk to the biggest names in motorsports.
In 2021 I started working for Eurosport International x GCN to cover cyclocross races. For Eurosports magazine show The Power of Sports I did some mini documentary series with athletes.
Creating online content
In 2018, I brought together everything I have learned to create my sports vlog, Sam’s Sports Stories. In this YouTube show, I visit various Dutch athletes. We take a look behind the scenes, get to know the athlete and, in some cases, I train with them.
Together with sports journalist colleague, Barbara Barend, I produce and host the Power Women Podcast. For this show, we sit down with female (ex)athletes to talk about their careers and lives.
In 2020 I start working for NUsport (NU.nl) as presenter and reporter. I cover several sports, but mainly Formula 1 and football. Before and after matches I host a show with my sports colleague, from the studio or onsite. I do mixed zone interviews and film and edit it myself. And I also host the F1 podcast show De Boordradio. Unfortunately the projects Euro2020 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics have been cancelled due to covid.
World Cups and more
For FIFA TV I followed team Netherlands during three FIFA World Cups as a reporter and producer. I did the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019, the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023. Together with my TV Crew Team, I'm present at every training session and press conference, we create unique video content surrounding the athletes and I interview the players right after every match in the mixed zone. In 2022 I did the UEFA Women's Euro in England for UEFA TV. I also work for the UEFA Champions League Magazine.
In 2018, I hosted the Volvo Ocean Race talk show at TV channel Veronica. At the 2018 Sailor of the Year Gala, this TV show wins the prestigious Conny van Riethoven Award.
In 2019, at Talpa TV, I helped setting up the sports department for the daily live show 6 Inside and create content with top athletes.
Facilitator & host
I also work as an event facilitator, moderator and host, national and international. Apart from Dutch I speak fluent English, German and I can get along pretty well in French and Spanish. The experience I have from hosting talk shows and as a journalist is very useful to lead discussions and to convey the message. I’m known for my good preparation, enthusiasm, curiosity, humor and improvisational ability. I sense the audience well and there is always interaction. I have more than 15 years of experience in hosting events. What I like most about it is that I get to cooperate and think with the most varying organizations. Together we will take every event to the highest step of the podium!
Sports and charity
Furthermore, I love sports challenges and doing it for charity is the icing on the cake. In 2009, I ran the New York Marathon and raised money for the Meet Kate Foundation, to contribute to the establishment of schools for children in Ghana. I participated at several organized charity runs and also spinning marathons to fight against muscular dystrophy. In 2014, I became ambassador/volunteer of sports club Only Friends in Amsterdam, where children with a handicap have the possibility to play sports too. For over a year, I helped the kids with soccer training, as well as the older members, the Older Friends, with gymnastics, fitness… and drinking coffee.
Contact
Would you like to book me as a presenter, host or work together on a program or project? Please contact me via e-mail and I will reply to you as soon as possible.
Samantha van Wijk
E-mail: info@samanthavanwijk.nl