Sharon van Rouwendaal of the Netherlands won the 10km marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Thursday, August 8. She dedicated her victory to her beloved dog Rio, who passed away in May of this year.
Leeuwendaal’s Pomeranian, Rio, was named after the 2016 Rio Olympics, where a Dutch swimmer won the first ever Olympic gold medal in the 10km marathon.
Rate the dog Revealed Rio died from complications from lung surgery.
On May 7, Leeuwendaal posted a heartfelt message on Instagram ahead of Rio. “Today I have to say goodbye to my little man who gave me the best feeling in the world, more than any medal I’ve ever won, more than any swimming moment I’ve ever had.“
The Olympic gold medallist said his dog is the most important thing in his life, and even revealed he’s bought a house for him and Rio to live in together shortly after the 2024 Paris Olympics.
So when the dog died, Leeuwendaal told Eurosport: “The world stopped” And she “I didn’t want to swim.”.
But Ruwendaal’s father told her to keep swimming. “Do it for him. [Rio]”She added: “And I wanted to swim at the Olympics again for him.”
talk Rate the dogLeeuwendaal said he got the leg tattoo in Rio’s honour. “So I got the tattoo three days after the cremation. I said, ‘I’m going to give it a go. I’m going to swim with all my heart and soul for him.’ And I did it. I won for him.”
After winning gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Leeuwendaal emerged from the Seine and cried, pointing to and kissing the footprint tattoo on his wrist.
Leeuwendaal has won three consecutive Olympic medals in the 10km swimming event: gold at Rio 2016, silver at Tokyo 2020 and gold again at Paris 2024.
Leeuwendaal could then win at the 2024 Paris Olympics, becoming the first female marathon swimmer to win multiple Olympic gold medals, Eurosport reports. reveal.
of Olympic It was also revealed that Leeuwendaal is the first swimmer to win three medals in marathon swimming.
