Sharon van Rouwendaal from Netherlands received the 10km marathon swim on the 2024 Paris Olympics on Thursday, August 8. She dedicates the win to her beloved pet canine, Rio, who handed away in Could of this 12 months.
Rouwendaal’s Pomeranian canine, Rio, was named after the 2016 Rio Olympics, the place the Dutch swimmer first received her Olympic Gold on the 10km marathon swim.
We Charge Canines revealed that Rio handed away as a result of issues from a lung surgical procedure.
On Could 7, Rouwendaal wrote a heartfelt message for Rio on Instagram, saying, “As we speak I have to say goodbye to my little man who has given me the very best feeling on the earth, higher than any medal I ever received, higher than any swimming second I’ve ever skilled.“
The Olympic champion mentioned that her pet canine is a very powerful factor in her life. She even revealed that she purchased a home for her and Rio to reside in proper after the 2024 Paris Olympics.
So, when the pooch handed away, Rouwendaal tells EuroSport that her “world stopped” and she or he “didn’t wish to swim”.
However Rouwendaal’s father advised her to proceed swimming and to “do it for him [Rio]”. She added, “And I needed to swim yet one more Olympics for him.”
Speaking to We Charge Canines, Rouwendaal mentioned she bought a paw tattoo in honor of Rio. “So I had a tattoo three days after the cremation and I mentioned, ‘Let’s attempt it and I’ll swim for him with my entire coronary heart’ — and I did it — I received for him.’”
After successful gold at 2024 Paris Olympics, Rouwendaal emerged from the Seine, crying whereas pointing at and kissing on the paw tattoo on her wrist.
Rouwendaal has received three consecutive Olympic medals within the 10km marathon swim occasion. She received gold within the 2016 Rio Olympics, silver within the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and gold once more within the 2024 Paris Olympics.
And with Rouwendaal’s current 2024 Paris Olympic win, she turns into the primary feminine marathon swimmer to win gold at a number of Olympics, Eurosport reveals.
The Olympics additionally reveals that Rouwendaal is the primary athlete ever in marathon swimming to win three medals within the mentioned self-discipline.
