Dutch swimmer Sharon van Rouwendaal, who won gold in the 10km Olympic marathon swim, touched many hearts with her dedication. She revealed that she competed and triumphed at the 2024 Paris Olympics in honor of her late dog, who had passed away over two months prior.

Meet Rio

Rio

According to WeRateDogs on Instagram, van Rouwendaal swam 10,000 meters in the Seine and took home the gold medal for her dog, Rio. A Pomeranian named after her previous Olympic gold in Brazil, had died in May following complications from lung surgery.

Following Rio’s death, van Rouwendaal lost her motivation to swim, but her father encouraged her to race once more for Rio. She shared with the media, “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.”

Social Media Reactions:

Instagram users responded with touching comments, such as one person who said, “Most relatable person ever.” Another user 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.”

Others expressed their emotions with comments like, “I am not crying; you are crying,” and, “I love the interviewer breaking the wall and coming on for a hug.”

Van Rouwendaal also addressed concerns about the River Seine’s condition, noting the presence of floating debris. She humorously remarked, “I was thirsty at some point, I was like drinking the Seine, so, let’s see,” 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.”