Sharon van Rouwendaal, the Dutch swimmer, made history by becoming the first woman to win the Olympic marathon swimming event twice. She reclaimed the title she first won in Rio, dedicating this victory to her late dog, Rio.
Van Rouwendaal expressed her emotional connection with her beloved pet, Rio, who passed away earlier this year. She revealed that Rio was her everything, and her world came to a halt when he died. For three weeks, she struggled to find motivation to swim again, until her father encouraged her to swim one more Olympics in honor of Rio.
After winning the gold medal in the Seine River, van Rouwendaal kissed a paw print tattoo on her wrist, symbolizing her cherished memories with Rio.
In a thrilling race, the 30-year-old Dutch star demonstrated her dominance in open water swimming. She outmaneuvered Moesha Johnson of Australia and Ginevra Taddeucci of Italy to claim the gold medal in the 10-kilometer marathon race at the Paris Olympics. Van Rouwendaal’s strategic move toward the middle of the river propelled her to victory, leaving her competitors behind.
Despite concerns about the water quality, the Olympic marathon swimming event in the Seine River highlighted the beauty and excitement of this lesser-known sport. Johnson expressed her hopes that more people would appreciate and learn about open water swimming after witnessing such a compelling competition.
Van Rouwendaal’s triumph, coupled with her heartfelt dedication to her late dog, Rio, adds a poignant layer to her remarkable achievement in the world of swimming.