 |
|
| Sharon
VAN ROUWENDAAL |
| Sport |
Open Water Swimming |
| NOC |
Netherlands
|
| Gender | Women |
| Born | 09 Sep 1993
in Baarn, NED |
| Height | 1.73 m |
|
|
|
|
|
General Interest |
Nicknames |
Shar (Athlete, 15 Jul 2015) |
Sporting philosophy / motto |
"If you give all of yourself in training then competing is easy. Believe in yourself and everything is possible." (Athlete, 15 Jul 2015) |
Injuries |
She was hampered by a shoulder injury in 2019. (ad.nl, 14 Jul 2019)
She sustained a shoulder injury in October 2015 that troubled her into mid-2016. (fina.org, 04 Dec 2016) |
Memorable sporting achievement |
Winning gold in the 10km open water event at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (fina.org, 17 Mar 2018) |
Sport Specific Information |
Why this sport? |
"Since I was young, I always had a lot of energy and was very competitive. I remember when we were younger, I was running in the fields with my brother and sister, and I always wanted to beat my brother. Then, one day I told my parents that I want to be an Olympic champion. I did a lot of sports. I chose swimming because I got asked by a coach to practice more. So I decided to concentrate on the swimming and do it professionally." |
When and where did you begin this sport? |
She began practising swimming seriously at age 14. "When I was 14, I already had the focus to be an Olympic champion." |
Further Personal Information |
Residence |
Magdeburg, GER |
Sport Specific Information |
Training Regime |
Her training base is in Magdeburg, Germany. |
Club / Team |
Montpellier Mediterranee Metropole UC Natation: France |
Name of coach |
Bernd Berkhahn [personal], GER, from 2020 |
Further Personal Information |
Occupation |
Athlete |
Languages |
Dutch, English, French |
General Interest |
Other information |
PADDLING POOL
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 she returned to her home in France from her German training base and used a paddling pool to continue training. "You couldn't swim in the ocean, river, I tried to swim everywhere, but it wasn't possible. I tried to keep myself fit and I was also thinking, 'I just want to go back and train'. I thought I cannot go anywhere - the police are everywhere. You feel really good when you swim on resistance [in the paddling pool]. I did some other workouts at home, but I filmed myself in that pool and got a lot of reactions. I recommend a bigger pool because I was touching the ground with my finger." (tokyo2020.org, 03 Mar 2021)
CHANGE OF COACH
In August 2020 she made the switch from French coach Philippe Lucas to German coach Bernd Berkhahn. "In the last year I started to doubt too often and too strongly about the collaboration with Philippe. I have become an Olympic champion under his leadership and I am very grateful to him, but I am ready for change and something new. Last season I did a number of training internships with the group of Bernd Berkhahn, who is also the German national team coach, and I really liked it. I have now taken the plunge and I am very happy to be able to work in Bernd's team." (swimswam.com, 07 Aug 2020)
TRAINING IN FRANCE
At age seven she and her parents moved to France, where she started swimming at a competitive level. In 2008 she decided to compete for the Netherlands. After spending time training in the Netherlands, she chose to return to France in 2013 to train with coach Philippe Lucas. "When I was younger I didn't have a lot of friends, I didn't see a lot of people, I was always concerned about my practice and my body. Even when I was 18 or 20 years old, I would barely go out because I always wanted to be 100% committed to my training, diet and body to have the best times. Many people didn't believe in me. They said I would never get a medal in international competitions. So, I started to do things about myself. That was the time when I moved to France and started training with my coach. I saw this as my last resort to improve and get the results I always dreamed." (medium.com, 02 Jun 2019; nocnsf.nl, 21 Jan 2010; parool.nl, 16 Apr 2009)
RIO WORRY
Her shoulder injury sustained in October 2015 led her to doubt her ability to perform well at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. "I lost all my power and couldn't sprint, couldn't go fast and in the pool it was the same. I was a little depressed I think because Rio was fast approaching, in less than four weeks. If I was asked to sign for a bronze medal without racing I would have said yes. During the race I was already very tired after six kilometres but I somehow managed to touch the pad first. I then became an Olympic champion. I showed everyone I could do it even though I had a tough year. I always said I was going be an Olympic champion since I was age four." (fina.org, 04 Dec 2016)
BIOGRAPHY
Her biography entitled 'BRUUT' was released in January 2020, written by Natasja Weber, a journalist for Dutch newspaper Eindhovens Dagblad. (Instagram profile, 18 Jan 2020) |
Awards and honours |
She was named Female Open Water Swimmer of the Year for 2014, 2018 and 2021 by the European Swimming Federation [LEN]. (len.eu, 31 Jan 2022; mundodeportivo.com, 15 Feb 2019; swimswam.com, 05 Feb 2015)
She was named the International Swimming Federation [FINA] Female Open Water Swimmer of the Year in 2016. (fina.org, 04 Dec 2016) |
Olympic Games |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 16 |
2021 |
Tokyo, JPN |
200m Backstroke |
2:12.98 |
| Heats |
2016 |
Rio de Janeiro, BRA |
400m Freestyle |
4:11.44 |
| Heats |
2016 |
Rio de Janeiro, BRA |
800m Freestyle |
DNS |
| 11 |
2012 |
London, ENG |
200m Backstroke |
2:09.50 |
| 20 |
2012 |
London, ENG |
100m Backstroke |
1:00.61 |
| 6 |
2012 |
London, ENG |
4 x 100m Medley Relay |
3:57.28 |
World Championships |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 6 |
2015 |
Kazan, RUS |
1500m Freestyle |
16:03.74 |
| 8 |
2015 |
Kazan, RUS |
800m Freestyle |
8:24.12 |
| 2 |
2015 |
Kazan, RUS |
400m Freestyle |
4:03.02 |
| Heats |
2015 |
Kazan, RUS |
4 x 100m Medley Relay |
|
| 3 |
2011 |
Shanghai, CHN |
200m Backstroke |
2:07.78 |
| Semifinal |
2011 |
Shanghai, CHN |
100m Backstroke |
1:00.14 |
World Championships Short Course |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| Heats |
2016 |
Windsor, ON, CAN |
800m Freestyle |
8:27.41 |
| 7 |
2016 |
Windsor, ON, CAN |
400m Freestyle |
4:03.69 |
| 22 |
2016 |
Windsor, ON, CAN |
200m Freestyle |
1:57.47 |
| 3 |
2014 |
Doha, QAT |
800m Freestyle |
8:08.17 |
| 2 |
2014 |
Doha, QAT |
400m Freestyle |
3:57.76 |
| 1 |
2014 |
Doha, QAT |
4 x 200m Freestyle Relay |
7:32.85 |
| Heats |
2012 |
Istanbul, TUR |
200m Backstroke |
2:08.51 |
| Semifinal |
2012 |
Istanbul, TUR |
100m Backstroke |
58.89 |
| Heats |
2012 |
Istanbul, TUR |
200m Freestyle |
1:58.38 |
| 5 |
2010 |
Dubai, UAE |
200m Backstroke |
2:04.10 |
| Semifinal |
2010 |
Dubai, UAE |
100m Backstroke |
58.69 |
| Heats |
2010 |
Dubai, UAE |
200m Freestyle |
1:56.22 |
| Heats |
2010 |
Dubai, UAE |
50m Backstroke |
DNS |
European Championships |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 6 |
2016 |
London, ENG |
400m Freestyle |
4:09.50 |
| Heats |
2016 |
London, ENG |
1500m Freestyle |
DNS |
| 8 |
2016 |
London, ENG |
800m Freestyle |
8:35.76 |
| 5 |
2014 |
Berlin, GER |
800m Freestyle |
8:28.28 |
| Heats |
2014 |
Berlin, GER |
200m Butterfly |
2:14.10 |
| Heats |
2014 |
Berlin, GER |
1500m Freestyle |
16:26.53 |
| 2 |
2014 |
Berlin, GER |
400m Freestyle |
4:03.76 |
| 20 |
2010 |
Budapest, HUN |
400m Freestyle |
4:18.94 |
| 5 |
2010 |
Budapest, HUN |
200m Backstroke |
2:11.56 |
| 8 |
2010 |
Budapest, HUN |
100m Backstroke |
1:01.79 |
| Heats |
2010 |
Budapest, HUN |
200m Freestyle |
2:02.81 |
European Championships Short Course |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 5 |
2015 |
Netanya, ISR |
400m Freestyle |
4:01.04 |
| 3 |
2015 |
Netanya, ISR |
800m Freestyle |
8:15.84 |
| Heats |
2015 |
Netanya, ISR |
200m Freestyle |
1:57.33 |
| Heats |
2013 |
Herning, DEN |
200m Backstroke |
2:11.18 |
| 3 |
2013 |
Herning, DEN |
800m Freestyle |
8:14.24 |
| 4 |
2013 |
Herning, DEN |
400m Freestyle |
3:59.22 |
| Heats |
2013 |
Herning, DEN |
200m Freestyle |
DNS |
| Heats |
2013 |
Herning, DEN |
4 x 50m Medley Relay |
DSQ |
| 5 |
2012 |
Chartres, FRA |
100m Backstroke |
58.47 |
| 4 |
2012 |
Chartres, FRA |
200m Backstroke |
2:05.85 |
| 2 |
2010 |
Eindhoven, NED |
200m Backstroke |
2:04.13 |
| 2 |
2010 |
Eindhoven, NED |
100m Backstroke |
57.91 |
| 6 |
2010 |
Eindhoven, NED |
400m Freestyle |
4:05.30 |
| 20 |
2009 |
Istanbul, TUR |
200m Backstroke |
2:07.72 |
| 22 |
2009 |
Istanbul, TUR |
100m Backstroke |
59.69 |
| 8 |
2009 |
Istanbul, TUR |
400m Freestyle |
4:05.14 |
| 12 |
2008 |
Rijeka, CRO |
800m Freestyle |
8:30.42 |
| 17 |
2008 |
Rijeka, CRO |
400m Freestyle |
4:09.61 |
World Cup Short Course |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 2 |
2016 |
Tokyo, JPN |
800m Freestyle |
8:17.54 |
| 5 |
2016 |
Tokyo, JPN |
400m Freestyle |
4:04.35 |
| 5 |
2013 |
Eindhoven, NED |
800m Freestyle |
8:16.34 NR |
| 5 |
2013 |
Eindhoven, NED |
400m Freestyle |
4:01.73 |
World Championships |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 1 |
2024 |
Doha, QAT |
10km |
1:57:26.8 |
| 1 |
2024 |
Doha, QAT |
5km |
57:33.9 |
| 2 |
2023 |
Fukuoka, JPN |
5km |
59:32.7 |
| 4 |
2023 |
Fukuoka, JPN |
10km |
2:02:42.4 |
| 1 |
2022 |
Budapest, HUN |
10km |
2:02:29.2 |
| 3 |
2022 |
Budapest, HUN |
25km |
5:24:15.3 |
| 10 |
2022 |
Budapest, HUN |
5km |
58:08.9 |
| 10 |
2019 |
Gwangju, KOR |
10km |
1:54:51.1 |
| |
2019 |
Gwangju, KOR |
25km |
DNS |
| 11 |
2019 |
Gwangju, KOR |
5km |
58:11.6 |
| 7 |
2019 |
Gwangju, KOR |
5km - Team Relay |
54:37.2 |
| 17 |
2017 |
Budapest, HUN |
10km |
2:01:55.5 |
| 2 |
2017 |
Budapest, HUN |
25km |
5:22:00.8 |
| 4 |
2017 |
Budapest, HUN |
5km |
59:11.5 |
| 2 |
2015 |
Kazan, RUS |
10km |
1:58:06.7 |
| 4 |
2015 |
Kazan, RUS |
5km |
58:55.5 |
| 2 |
2015 |
Kazan, RUS |
5km - Team Time Trial |
55:31.2 |
European Championships |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 1 |
2022 |
Rome, ITA |
5km |
56:58.7 |
| 4 |
2022 |
Rome, ITA |
10km |
2:01:16.6 |
| 1 |
2021 |
Budakalász, HUN |
5km |
58:45.2 |
| 1 |
2021 |
Budakalász, HUN |
10km |
1:59:12.7 |
| 1 |
2018 |
Glasgow, SCO |
5km |
56:01.0 |
| 1 |
2018 |
Glasgow, SCO |
10km |
1:54:45.7 |
| 2 |
2018 |
Glasgow, SCO |
25km |
5:19:34.7 |
| 1 |
2018 |
Glasgow, SCO |
5km - Team Relay |
52:35.0 |
| 4 |
2016 |
Hoorn, NED |
10km |
2:07:06.8 |
| 3 |
2016 |
Hoorn, NED |
5km |
59:54.9 |
| 1 |
2014 |
Berlin, GER |
10km |
1:56:06.9 |
| 2 |
2014 |
Berlin, GER |
5 km |
58:29.9 |
| 1 |
2014 |
Berlin, GER |
5km - Team Time Trial |
55:47.8 |
World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 2 |
2023 |
|
10km |
|
| 8 |
2023 |
Funchal, POR |
10km |
1:58:11.1 |
| 8 |
2023 |
Golfo Aranci, ITA |
10km |
1:56:32.7 |
| 3 |
2023 |
Setúbal, POR |
10km |
2:01:13.0 |
| 2 |
2022 |
|
10km |
|
| 5 |
2022 |
Eilat, ISR |
10km |
1:56:28.2 |
| 1 |
2022 |
Lac-Mégantic, QC, CAN |
10km |
2:01:09.70 |
| 2 |
2022 |
Paris, FRA |
10km |
2:00:35.77 |
| 2 |
2022 |
Setúbal, POR |
10km |
2:09:32.30 |
| 3 |
2021 |
Abu Dhabi, UAE |
10km |
1:58:22.1 |
| |
2020 |
|
10km |
|
| 3 |
2020 |
Doha, QAT |
10km |
1:56:41.3 |
| 67 |
2019 |
|
10km |
|
| 12 |
2019 |
Doha, QAT |
10km |
2:04:05.2 |
| 3 |
2018 |
|
10km |
|
| 6 |
2018 |
Abu Dhabi, UAE |
10km |
2:00:27.4 |
| 9 |
2018 |
Balatonfüred, HUN |
10km |
2:06:15.50 |
| 6 |
2018 |
Beau Vallon, SEY |
10km |
1:58:36.50 |
| 1 |
2018 |
Doha, QAT |
10km |
2:02:24.4 |
| 4 |
2018 |
Qiandaohu, CHN |
10km |
2:06:24.90 |
| 2 |
2018 |
Setúbal, POR |
10km |
2:05:20.26 |
| 14 |
2017 |
|
10km |
|
| 2 |
2017 |
Abu Dhabi, UAE |
10km |
1:52:35.4 |
| 21 |
2015 |
San Miguel de Cozumel, MEX |
10km |
1:49:36.00 |
| |
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