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Ferry WEERTMAN
Sport Open Water Swimming
NOC Netherlands   
GenderMen
Born27 Jun 1992 in Naarden, NED
 Human Interest 
Further Personal Information
Residence
Eindhoven, NED
Sport Specific Information
Club / Team
Otters Het Gooi: Bussum, NED
When and where did you begin this sport?
He began swimming at age six in Bussum, Netherlands. He took up open water swimming at age 17.
International Debut
Year
2012
Competing for
Netherlands
Further Personal Information
Languages
Dutch, English
General Interest
Sporting philosophy / motto
"Pain is not my enemy, it's my call to greatness." (Facebook page, 27 Nov 2018)
Awards and honours
He was named Best Open Water Male Swimmer of 2018 at the International Swimming Federation's [FINA] World Aquatics Gala in Hangzhou, People's Republic of China. (swimmingworldmagazine.com, 16 Dec 2018)

In 2017 he received a Long-Term Performance Award from the Dutch Swimming Federation. (fina.org, 10 Aug 2017)

He received the International Swimming Federation [FINA] Male Open Water Swimmer of the Year Award in 2016. (fina.org, 04 Dec 2016)

He was voted the European Swimming Federation [LEN] Male Open Water Swimmer of the Year in 2015. (swimswam.com, 07 Jan 2016)
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport?
His brother was swimming and he thought it looked like fun. He was encouraged to take up open water swimming after he failed to qualify for the 800m freestyle at the 2009 European Junior Championships. "I enjoy swimming and I love the feeling of being in the water. I wanted to compete in the European pool championships but didn't qualify. I found my place in open water and really liked it."
General Interest
Hero / Idol
Dutch swimmer Maarten van der Weijden. (Athlete, 10 Jul 2015)
International Debut
Tournament
Olympic Games Qualifying
Location
Setúbal, POR
Sport Specific Information
Coach from which country?
Netherlands
General Interest
Famous relatives
His partner Ranomi Kromowidjojo has represented the Netherlands in swimming at the Olympic Games in 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020, winning three gold medals. (trouw.nl, 22 Jun 2020; SportsDeskOnline, 20 Dec 2021; Instagram profile, 29 Jun 2019)
Further Personal Information
Family
Partner Ranomi Kromowidjojo
General Interest
Memorable sporting achievement
Winning a gold medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (fina.org, 04 Dec 2016)
Other information
RETIREMENT
In December 2021 he announced his retirement from competitive swimming. "It's time for a new chapter in my life. I've had a wonderful career, with many successes. I want to thank each and everyone who played a part in my swimming." (swimswam.com, 07 Dec 2021)

SWIMMING PARTNER
He and partner, Dutch swimmer Ranomi Kromowidjojo, try hard to keep their swimming and private life separate. "When I have a hard time mentally, I sometimes have a glass of whiskey. Just because I like it. In such a situation Ranomi takes a piece of chocolate. If she tells me not to drink alcohol or warns me that a bar isn't good for her, you're bound to clash. We agreed early on in our relationship what to say and what not to say. When we talk about swimming all day, our relationship never lasts. We understand what the other is doing. What we don't understand, we let go." (trouw.nl, 22 Jun 2020)

ATHLETE REPRESENTATIVE
In 2018 he began serving as an athlete representative on the International Swimming Federation's [FINA] Athletes Committee. (LinkedIn profile, 28 Apr 2021)

 Competition Highlights
World Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
Heats 2017 Budapest, HUN 800m Freestyle 7:56.44
8 2017 Budapest, HUN 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:12.76
Heats 2015 Kazan, RUS 1500m Freestyle 15:32.01
Heats 2015 Kazan, RUS 400m Freestyle 3:52.18
European Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
  2018 Glasgow, SCO 800m Freestyle  
7 2018 Glasgow, SCO 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:13.46
7 2014 Berlin, GER 800m Freestyle 7:55.57
Heats 2014 Berlin, GER 400m Freestyle 3:51.05
Heats 2014 Berlin, GER 200m Freestyle 1:49.58
5 2014 Berlin, GER 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:11.59
European Championships Short Course
Rank Year Venue Event Result
7 2017 Copenhagen, DEN 400m Freestyle 3:42.00
Heats 2017 Copenhagen, DEN 1500m Freestyle 14:53.04
22 2017 Copenhagen, DEN 200m Freestyle 1:45.91 
19 2013 Herning, DEN 1500m Freestyle 15:01.33
Heats 2013 Herning, DEN 400m Freestyle 3:44.15
Heats 2013 Herning, DEN 200m Freestyle 1:46.54
World Cup Short Course
Rank Year Venue Event Result
63 2017   Overall  
7 2017 Berlin, GER 1500m Freestyle 14:58.88
4 2017 Eindhoven, NED 400m Freestyle 3:41.53
3 2017 Eindhoven, NED 1500m Freestyle 14:50.27
5 2013 Berlin, GER 1500m Freestyle 14:52.03
5 2013 Eindhoven, NED 400m Freestyle 3:42.19
6 2013 Eindhoven, NED 1500m Freestyle 14:44.45
World Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
7 2019 Gwangju, KOR 10km 1:48:01.9
7 2019 Gwangju, KOR 5km - Team Relay 54:37.2
1 2017 Budapest, HUN 10km 1:51:58.5
2 2015 Kazan, RUS 10km 1:50:00.3
2 2015 Kazan, RUS 5km - Team Time Trial 55:31.2
6 2013 Barcelona, ESP 10km 1:49:20.3
European Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
4 2021 Budakalász, HUN 10km 1:51:43.0
1 2018 Glasgow, SCO 10km 1:49:28.2
  2018 Glasgow, SCO 25km  DNS
1 2018 Glasgow, SCO 5km - Team Relay 52:35.0
1 2016 Hoorn, NED 10km 1:55:20.6
5 2016 Hoorn, NED 5km 55:14.8
1 2014 Berlin, GER 10km 1:49:56.2
1 2014 Berlin, GER 5km - Team Time Trial 55:47.8
6 2012 Piombino, ITA 10km 1:57:56.3
11 2012 Piombino, ITA 5 km 56:10.2
World Series
Rank Year Venue Event Result
19 2021   10km  
8 2021 Doha, QAT 10km 1:52:16.2
  2020   10km  
8 2020 Doha, QAT 10km 1:50:02.6
6 2019   10km  
2 2019 Balatonfüred, HUN 10km 1:50:19.2
4 2019 Beau Vallon, SEY 10km 1:56:04.80
1 2019 Qiandaohu, CHN 10km 1:56:00.13
7 2018 Abu Dhabi, UAE 10km 1:53:09.2
2 2018 Balatonfüred, HUN 10km 1:55:57.00
4 2018 Beau Vallon, SEY 10km 1:49:46.40
1 2018 Doha, QAT 10km 1:52:41.6
4 2018 Qiandaohu, CHN 10km 1:56:36.80
4 2018 Setúbal, POR 10km 1:56:29.02
5 2017   10km  
2 2017 Abu Dhabi, UAE 10km 1:45:54.9
2 2017 Hong Kong, CHN 10km 1:53:11.1
4 2017 Qiandaohu, CHN 10km 1:31:56.9
7 2017 Setúbal, POR 10km 1:30:02.33
8 2016 Abu Dhabi, UAE 10km 1:47:49.80
4 2015 San Miguel de Cozumel, MEX 10km 1:42:14.01
6 2014 Cancún, MEX 10km 1:56:49
7 2013 San Miguel de Cozumel, MEX 10km 1:56:47.70
5 2012   10km  
14 2012 Eilat, ISR 10km 1:53:08.50
46 2012 Santos, BRA 10km 2:20:58.94
5 2012 Shantou, CHN 10km 1:50:50.67
25 2012 Viedma, ARG 10km 2:00:27