Dutch swimmer Sharon van Rouwendaal, who won the gold medal in the 10km Olympic marathon swim, touched many hearts when she revealed who she dedicated her victory to. She shared that her participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she secured the top spot, was for her dog, who passed away just over two months earlier.
WeRateDogs took to Instagram to highlight Sharon’s deep bond with her pet. The post stated, “Sharon van Rouwendaal of the Netherlands braved a 10,000-meter race in the Seine to take home the gold medal, and she did it all for her dog. Rio, a Pomeranian named after her last Olympic gold in Brazil, passed away in May, after complications from a lung surgery.”
Following the death of her dog, Sharon lost all motivation to continue swimming. It was her father who encouraged her to race one more time in honor of Rio.
“So I had a tattoo three days after the cremation and I said, ‘Let’s try it and I will swim for him with my whole heart’ — and I did it — I won for him,” Sharon shared with the media.
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The Instagram post also includes a video showing Sharon pointing to a paw-shaped tattoo on her wrist, which she got in memory of Rio after completing her race and emerging from the River Seine.
The video quickly gained emotional responses from viewers, with many expressing how moved they were by her story.
How did Instagram users react to the athlete’s gesture?
One person wrote, “Most relatable person ever.” Another shared, “Relatable. I was in the worst physical shape of my life when I lost my pup two years ago. Her loss inspired me to get fit, as she would have wanted me to be the best version of myself. I had her tattooed on my arm with some of her ashes mixed in the ink. In April, on her loss anniversary, I completed my first 10K in her honor.”
A third user commented, “I am not crying; you are crying.” Another added, “I love the interviewer breaking the wall and coming on for a hug.”
The poor condition of the River Seine has been widely discussed, with reports of floating feces in the water. Sharon also spoke about the experience of swimming in the river, saying, “I was thirsty at some point, I was like drinking the Seine, so, let’s see,” and adding, “I’m fine, I’m fine. I didn’t even vomit, normally I vomit out of pain but, yeah, I didn’t vomit after the race.”