Student Epke Zonderland world champion on the horizontal bar

Epke Zonderland has become world champion on the horizontal bar. The medical student was awarded 16.000 points on Sunday for his routine at the World Championships in Antwerp, which kept him ahead of his closest rival, the German Fabian Hambüchen (15.933). The world title completes Zonderland’s stunning trilogy. After winning the European title in 2011 and Olympic gold in London in 2012, Zonderland has now also claimed his first world championship.

Zonderland’s decision to concentrate on his medical studies after winning the Olympic title makes this achievement even more astounding. In the year following the London Olympics, Zonderland worked as an intern (including at the UMCG), only returning to full-time training in July of this year. As it turned out, the short preparation period was enough to earn him the jewel in the crown of his top-class sporting career.