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Sebastiaan VERSCHUREN
Sport Swimming
NOC Netherlands   
GenderMen
Born07 Oct 1988 in Amsterdam, NED
Height1.92 m
 Human Interest 
Further Personal Information
Residence
Amsterdam, NED
General Interest
Hobbies
Travel, photography, video. (Facebook page, 11 Aug 2017)
Injuries
A broken finger meant he missed the 2010 European Short Course Championships in Eindhoven, Netherlands, and the 2010 World Short Course Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He returned to competition in January 2011. (ad.nl, 13 Jan 2011)
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport?
He began swimming at age four in Nieuwegein, Netherlands.
Further Personal Information
Occupation
Business Owner, Coach
General Interest
Other information
RETIREMENT
He announced his retirement from swimming in December 2016. "I've found other things in life that I enjoy more. If I stay in professional sport at 99%, it's not enough. It was not an easy choice, but I'm clear. I swim because I like it, not to get rich. I did not have the fire anymore, so I stopped." (utrechtsesportkrant.nl, 19 Apr 2017; ed.nl, 20 Dec 2016)

BUSINESS OWNER
In 2009 he founded Swimclinics with Dutch swimmer Joost Reijns, providing coaching to swimming clubs in the Netherlands. (Facebook profile, 20 Mar 2017; swimclinics.nl, 12 Feb 2016; zwemsite.nl, 11 Jan 2011)
Further Personal Information
Languages
Dutch, English
General Interest
Memorable sporting achievement
Winning three gold medals at the 2016 European Championships in London, England, finishing fifth in the 100m freestyle at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, and claiming silver in the 4x100m mixed freestyle relay at the 2015 World Championships in Kazan, Russian Federation. (ed.nl, 20 Dec 2016)
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport?
"My older brother was already swimming and when I saw him swimming I could not resist."
General Interest
Most influential person in career
Coach Martin Truijens. (Athlete, 10 Jul 2015)
International Debut
Year
2006
Competing for
Netherlands
Tournament
European Championships
Location
Budapest, HUN
General Interest
Nicknames
Verskure (Athlete, 10 Jul 2015)
Further Personal Information
Family
Partner Naima van Schaik
General Interest
Awards and honours
He was named the 2016 Sportsman of the Year in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (parool.nl, 19 Dec 2016)

 Competition Highlights
Olympic Games
Rank Year Venue Event Result
Semifinal 2016 Rio de Janeiro, BRA 100m Freestyle 48.28
Semifinal 2016 Rio de Janeiro, BRA 200m Freestyle 1:46.34
7 2016 Rio de Janeiro, BRA 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:09.10
11 2012 London, ENG 200m Freestyle 1:46.95
5 2012 London, ENG 100m Freestyle 47.88 
7 2012 London, ENG 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:33.46
World Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
5 2015 Kazan, RUS 200m Freestyle 1:45.91
Semifinal 2015 Kazan, RUS 100m Freestyle 48.59
2 2015 Kazan, RUS 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:23.10
7 2015 Kazan, RUS 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:09.75
Semifinal 2013 Barcelona, ESP 200m Freestyle 1:47.31
Semifinal 2013 Barcelona, ESP 100m Freestyle 48.73
Heats 2013 Barcelona, ESP 50m Freestyle 22.78
Semifinal 2011 Shanghai, CHN 200m Freestyle 1:47.52
8 2011 Shanghai, CHN 100m Freestyle 48.27
5 2011 Shanghai, CHN 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:34.11
Heat 2009 Rome, ITA 100m Freestyle 49.12
7 2009 Rome, ITA 200m Freestyle 1:46.05
Heat 2009 Rome, ITA 4 x 100m Medley Relay  
European Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
1 2016 London, ENG 200m Freestyle 1:46.02
2 2016 London, ENG 100m Freestyle 48.32
1 2016 London, ENG 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:23.64
1 2016 London, ENG 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:07.82
6 2014 Berlin, GER 200m Freestyle 1:47.16
Semifinal 2014 Berlin, GER 100m Freestyle 49.05
5 2014 Berlin, GER 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:11.59
8 2014 Berlin, GER 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:37.85
3 2010 Budapest, HUN 200m Freestyle 1:46.91
6 2010 Budapest, HUN 100m Freestyle 48.82
6 2010 Budapest, HUN 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:16.87
3 2010 Budapest, HUN 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:33.99
Semifinal 2008 Eindhoven, NED 200m Freestyle 1:49.59
Heats 2008 Eindhoven, NED 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:20.80
Heats 2006 Budapest, HUN 1500m Freestyle 15:48.37
European Championships Short Course
Rank Year Venue Event Result
8 2013 Herning, DEN 100m Freestyle 47.60
Heats 2013 Herning, DEN 200m Freestyle 1:45.14
3 2013 Herning, DEN 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 1:30.62
47 2009 Istanbul, TUR 200m Freestyle 1:49.00
49 2009 Istanbul, TUR 100m Freestyle 49.02
30 2008 Rijeka, CRO 400m Freestyle 3:53.18
45 2008 Rijeka, CRO 200m Freestyle 1:48.17
World Cup Short Course
Rank Year Venue Event Result
7 2013 Beijing, CHN 100m Freestyle 47.96
6 2013 Beijing, CHN 200m Freestyle 1:46.28
6 2013 Berlin, GER 100m Freestyle 47.24
1 2013 Berlin, GER 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 1:30.33
5 2013 Doha, QAT 200m Freestyle 1:45.98
5 2013 Dubai, UAE 200m Freestyle 1:46.50
5 2013 Eindhoven, NED 100m Freestyle 47.21
3 2013 Eindhoven, NED 200m Freestyle 1:43.25
4 2013 Eindhoven, NED 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 1:32.11
8 2013 Singapore, SGP 100m Freestyle 48.42
7 2013 Tokyo, JPN 100m Freestyle 47.85