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Pal JOENSEN
Sport Open Water Swimming
NOC Denmark   
GenderMen
Born10 Dec 1990 in Vágur, FRO
 Human Interest 
Further Personal Information
Residence
Copenhagen, DEN
General Interest
Awards and honours
The first 50m swimming pool in the Faroe Islands was named 'Pal's Hall' after him when it was opened in October 2015. (local.fo, 18 Apr 2019; dr.dk, 01 Jan 2016; faroeislands.fo, 01 Jan 2016; faroeislands.fo, 15 Oct 2015)

He was named Faroese Sportsperson of the Year for 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2013 by Faroese national broadcasting company, Kringvarp Foroya. (in.fo, 31 Dec 2013; telegraph.co.uk, 12 Aug 2010)
Further Personal Information
Languages
Danish, English
Occupation
Executive
Family
Wife Malan, two children including Thea
General Interest
Famous relatives
His wife Malan Vitalis [nee Baerendsen] has competed in swimming at an elite level. (alandresults2009.com, 01 Jan 2009)
Hero / Idol
Norwegian swimmer Alexander Dale Oen. (swimnews.dk, 01 Aug 2016)
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport?
He took up the sport at age six in Vagur, Faroe Islands.
General Interest
Other information
MOVE TO DENMARK
In August 2012 he relocated from the Faroe Islands to Copenhagen, Denmark, seeking better training conditions. He competed for Denmark at the Olympic Games in 2012 and 2016 because the Faroe Islands, his country of birth, was not recognised by the International Olympic Committee [IOC]. (faroeislands.fo, 01 Jan 2016; swimswam.com, 01 Jan 2014)

BOOK
He is the subject of a book called 'The Pal Effect: a Faroe Islander's Quest for Swimming Glory', which was written by Rod Gilmour and published in August 2015. The book charts his rise from initially training in a 12.5-metre pool to competing at the Olympic Games. (The Pal Effect Facebook page, 27 Jun 2017; swimswam.com, 01 Jan 2014)

OCCUPATION
He works as an account executive for an information technology company based in Copenhagen, Denmark. (LinkedIn profile, 01 Nov 2020)

FURTHER EDUCATION
Between 2017 and 2019 he studied for a master's degree in management of innovation and business development at the Copenhagen Business School in Denmark. (LinkedIn profile, 01 Feb 2020)
Further Personal Information
Higher education
Management - Copenhagen Business School: Frederiksberg, DEN
General Interest
Milestones
He became the first swimmer representing the Faroe Islands to win a medal at the world short course championships by claiming bronze in the 1500m freestyle at the 2012 edition of the tournament in Istanbul, Turkey. (SportsDeskOnline, 07 Aug 2017; faroeislands.fo, 01 Jan 2016)

He became the first swimmer representing the Faroe Islands to win a medal at the European championships by claiming silver in the 1500m freestyle at the 2010 edition of the tournament in Budapest, Hungary. (SportsDeskOnline, 02 Nov 2020)

 Competition Highlights
Olympic Games
Rank Year Venue Event Result
Heats 2016 Rio de Janeiro, BRA 1500m Freestyle 15:18.49
10 2012 London, ENG 400m Freestyle 3:47.36
17 2012 London, ENG 1500m Freestyle 15:18.42
Heats 2012 London, ENG 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay  
World Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
Heats 2015 Kazan, RUS 800m Freestyle 7:55.01
Heats 2015 Kazan, RUS 1500m Freestyle 14:58.52
7 2013 Barcelona, ESP 800m Freestyle 7:52.57
7 2013 Barcelona, ESP 1500m Freestyle 15:03.10
4 2011 Shanghai, CHN 1500m Freestyle 14:46.33
5 2011 Shanghai, CHN 800m Freestyle 7:46.51
Heat 2009 Rome, ITA 1500m Freestyle 15:21.37
Heat 2009 Rome, ITA 800m Freestyle 8:01.50
Heat 2009 Rome, ITA 400m Freestyle 3:48.93
Heats 2007 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 100m Freestyle 55.07
Heats 2007 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 1500m Freestyle 16:23.56
Heats 2007 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 800m Freestyle 8:30.31
Heats 2007 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 400m Freestyle 4:08.40
Heats 2007 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 200m Freestyle 1:59.82
Heats 2007 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 50m Freestyle 26.03
World Championships Short Course
Rank Year Venue Event Result
30 2016 Windsor, ON, CAN 1500m Freestyle 15:13.84 
Heats 2016 Windsor, ON, CAN 400m Freestyle 3:50.95
Heats 2016 Windsor, ON, CAN 200m Freestyle 1:50.69
4 2014 Doha, QAT 1500m Freestyle 14:26.54
Heats 2014 Doha, QAT 400m Freestyle 3:42.31
3 2012 Istanbul, TUR 1500m Freestyle 14:36.93
5 2012 Istanbul, TUR 400m Freestyle 3:42.23
Heats 2010 Dubai, UAE 400m Freestyle 3:44.42
13 2010 Dubai, UAE 1500m Freestyle 14:54.94
11 2008 Manchester, ENG 1500m Freestyle 15:12.88
Heats 2008 Manchester, ENG 400m Freestyle 3:50.71
Heats 2008 Manchester, ENG 200m Freestyle 1:53.26
European Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
Heats 2016 London, ENG 1500m Freestyle 15:16.44
2 2014 Berlin, GER 1500m Freestyle 14:50.59
2 2014 Berlin, GER 800m Freestyle 7:48.49
2 2010 Budapest, HUN 1500m Freestyle 14:56.90
5 2010 Budapest, HUN 800m Freestyle 7:53.11
European Championships Short Course
Rank Year Venue Event Result
6 2015 Netanya, ISR 1500m Freestyle 14:42.16
Heats 2015 Netanya, ISR 400m Freestyle 3:44.62
Heats 2013 Herning, DEN 400m Freestyle 3:45.74
2 2013 Herning, DEN 1500m Freestyle 14:35.99
Heats 2013 Herning, DEN 200m Freestyle 1:47.03
9 2012 Chartres, FRA 1500m Freestyle 14:57.21
32 2011 Szczecin, POL 200m Freestyle 1:47.56
4 2011 Szczecin, POL 400m Freestyle 3:41.05
5 2011 Szczecin, POL 1500m Freestyle 14:37.83
45 2009 Istanbul, TUR 200m Freestyle 1:48.61
7 2009 Istanbul, TUR 1500m Freestyle 14:38.00
28 2008 Rijeka, CRO 200m Freestyle 1:46.61
13 2008 Rijeka, CRO 400m Freestyle 3:42.57
5 2008 Rijeka, CRO 1500m Freestyle 14:39.99
27 2007 Debrecen, HUN 400m Freestyle 3:55.94
40 2007 Debrecen, HUN 200m Freestyle 1:51.79
12 2007 Debrecen, HUN 1500m Freestyle 15:10.02
World Cup Short Course
Rank Year Venue Event Result
7 2012 Berlin, GER 1500m Freestyle 15:04.97
5 2012 Berlin, GER 400m Freestyle 3:47.30
1 2011 Stockholm, SWE 1500m Freestyle 14:52.00
3 2011 Stockholm, SWE 400m Freestyle 3:45.50
33 2010   Overall  
2 2010 Berlin, GER 400m Freestyle 3:44.45
2 2010 Berlin, GER 1500m Freestyle 14:47.39
1 2010 Moscow, RUS 400m Freestyle 3:45.56
1 2010 Moscow, RUS 1500m Freestyle 14:50.66
3 2010 Stockholm, SWE 400m Freestyle 3:46.13
2 2010 Stockholm, SWE 1500m Freestyle 14:54.21
2 2009 Berlin, GER 1500m Freestyle 14:32.15
1 2009 Moscow, RUS 1500m Freestyle 14:32.64
2 2009 Stockholm, SWE 1500m Freestyle 14:32.59
2 2008 Stockholm, SWE 1500m Freestyle 14:48.89
European Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
  2014 Berlin, GER 5 km  DSQ
29 2012 Piombino, ITA 10km 2:02:18.8
10 2012 Piombino, ITA 5 km 55:53.7