van koeckhoven was born in ghent but later moved to zelzate. in 1991, she started swimming in a club. her first international success was a bronze medal in the 200 m freestyle at the 1997 european youth olympic festival in lisbon. next year she won two more bronze medals, in the 100 m and 200 m freestyle at the european junior swimming championships. from 1999 she competed in regular competitions and reached the finals at the 1999 european aquatics championships, again in the 200 m freestyle. her best results came in 2000 when she won two european medals and passed the olympic selection.