Sharon van Rouwendaal Brings Curtain Down On Historic Career
Sharon van Rouwendaal has announced her retirement after a career in which she became the most successful open water swimmer in Olympic history while claiming medals in the world and European long and short-course pools.
It comes 13 months after her victory in the River Seine at Paris 2024 which propelled her into the history books as she became the first swimmer to twice win marathon gold in Olympic waters, eight years after lifting the crown at Rio 2016. With silver at Tokyo 2021, she also became the first athlete to claim three medals.
That was, Van Rouwendaal told Swimming World last month, “the most beautiful race because it all came together. It was not just swimming, it was swimming smart.”
Her announcement concludes a career that saw her first stand on the senior international podium at the 2010 European Short-Course Championships in Eindhoven.
In a lengthy post on social media, the 31-year-old said: “To everyone who supported me – coaches, teammates, friends, fans, and above all, my family – thank you.
“Without you this brutal but beautiful adventure would not have been possible.
“And to all swimmers, athletes and dreamers; remember, medals are won with your body but true victories are won with your mind.
“It’s time to step out of the tunnel and start living.
“With love and gratitude, this is Sharon van Rouwendaal, signing off as a professional swimmer and signing on to the SVR Swim Academy.”
