Dutch Olympian Emmelie Scholtens Battles Leukemia, On the Road to Recovery

Dressage

The Netherlands

In an openhearted interview with Horses.nl Dutch Olympian Emmelie Scholtens disclosed she has been diagnosed with a rare type of chronic leukemia.

It caused the still-birth of her baby Max in May.

A Persistent Cold

It all stated in 2024 with mild health issues and signs of a persistent cold during the 2024 Dutch Championships and CDIO Rotterdam, as well as at the Olympic Games, where she rode Indian Rock to an 11th place in the Kur to Music.

"When I think back on that now, I sometimes think: how did I manage that back then?" Scholtens stated. "For example at CHIO Rotterdam: I really don't remember much of my tests there, I did ride that freestyle but actually couldn't breathe at all. I was heading for my first Games and was like: I just have to keep going."

Diagnosis

With Indian Rock at her first Olympics in Paris

Emmelie became pregnant with her second child, but during a hospital visit in February 2025 her blood values turned out to be bad. Via the NIPT-test for her baby the doctors discovered. that Emmelie was seriously ill.

"Through that blood test, the doctors found out that I have a very rare and chronic form of leukaemia," Emmelie told Horses.nl. "A form that is treatable and that I can grow old with, but also one that posed a great risk to my pregnancy because of the treatments I had to undergo."

"The Baby Saved My Life"

Emmelie underwent immuno-therapy and initially her baby was fine with a good ultrasound at 20 weeks.

"In the end - with everything together, the disease, the low blood levels and the therapy - the baby did not make it," Emmelie disclosed to Horses.nl. "It was already an intense period, but that was a hugely bitter pill."

Scholtens continued, "that was very tough and of course we both had a hard time with that, but I also try to look on the bright side. You could say that our unborn child saved my life. Who knows how long I would have gone on without the cause of my health problems coming to light. I had almost no immunity left, which in retrospect was the reason I kept getting colds and infections. My blood levels were so low that it was really risky, for infections and, for example, for a haemorrhage. My body was no longer able to regulate things on its own."

Grateful

Scholtens has been getting treatment and received positive first results. Her blood values are back to normal. Emmelie, her husband Jeroen, and their daughter Micky are grateful for life and they give her the strength to carry on.

"After a period like that you also learn to put things into perspective, you learn what really matters in life and what doesn't," said Emmelie. "I noticed that in sport, since Micky came along, I am a bit more relaxed. I'm still fanatical, but I don't lose sleep over it when things don't go so well."

Bright Future

Emmelie has a bright future ahead of her, certainly professionally.

She was recently appointed KWPN Stallion Licensing committee member and scored 71.467% in her national Grand Prix debut aboard stallion Kyton.

More details about her future path in sport, as well as KWPN licensing committee member can be read in this interview on Horses.nl