By Danny Whirlow, Swimming World College Intern.
On August 18, 2018 – fifteen years after he beat leukemia – Dutch Olympian and gold medalist Maarten van der Weijden plunged into the frigid waters of the Netherland’s famous Elfstedentocht. Typically used a speed skating course, the Elfstedentocht covers 200 km across eleven cities in Friesland province. Van der Weijden’s goal: to swim the course in its entirety to raise money for cancer research.
Unfortunately, due to significant levels of E. coli in the water, Van der Weijden had to suspend his swim after becoming ill. He had completed 163 km of the course.
Photo Courtesy: Casper van Aggelen
On June 21, 2019, Van der Weijden embarked on his second attempt to swim the Elfstedentocht. He powered through city after city, consuming over 10,000 calories per day and taking short naps to recharge. On the evening of June 24, Van der Weijden triumphantly swam into the city of Leeuwarden. After 74 hours and 4 minutes of swimming, he had raised €3,910,763.11 ($4,338,424.61) for cancer research.
Photo Courtesy: Raymond van Olphen
However, donations didn’t stop pouring in after the finish line. A day later, the total amount climbed upwards of €5 million, and by June 28, €6.1 million had been raised.
Recently, Swimming World Magazine had the opportunity to speak with Van der Weijden not only about his swimming accomplishments but also his cancer treatments and future goals.
Swimming World: It has been over a month since you completed the Elfstedentocht. What is your biggest take-away from that experience?
Van der Weijden: A lot has to do with dealing with uncertainty. That it is okay to fail, okay to try for another time and the only thing you need to focus on is improve yourself.
SW: Why the Elfstedentocht?
MVDW: In the Netherlands, the Elfstedentocht is a famous speed skating event. It’s the biggest athletic event in the Netherlands – even bigger then the Olympic Games. It can only be held when there is enough ice, and the last time it was held it was 1997. Because it’s the most famous tour in the Netherlands, it was the ideal tour for me to swim.
Photo Courtesy: Elfstedenroute
SW: This was your second attempt: the first one was cut short due illness in August 2018. How did you prepare differently going into your second attempt?
SW: What drew you to open water swimming?
SW: How important is community involvement and charity to you?
Photo Courtesy: Raymond van Olphen
SW: Walk us through that initial cancer diagnosis. Did you think you’d ever swim again? How did the diagnosis affect you physically and mentally?
SW: What was it like returning to swimming after beating cancer?
MVDW: The first time back in the pool, I did a 100m all out and swam it in over a minute and 30 seconds. I was sad because it was so slow. A week later, I did it again and swam one minute, 23 seconds. Still slow but happy that I improved.
Photo Courtesy: RAYMOND VAN OLPHEN
SW: What are the biggest take-aways you have from your competitive swimming career?
SW: What has been your family’s role throughout your cancer treatment, swimming career, and now your charity work?
SW: What’s next? Are you looking to top the “Eleven Cities Tour”?
MVDW: Not sure. What is for sure is that I want to continue raising funds for cancer research. That is the most important thing now!
Photo Courtesy: RAYMOND VAN OLPHEN
To learn more about Van der Weijden’s foundation, click here.
Watch a recap of Van der Weijden’s Elfstedentocht finish by clicking here.
-All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.