Marlou van Rhijn (; born 22 October 1991) is a retired professional Dutch former professional sprint runner. Van Rhijn, who was born without lower legs, is the world record holder for T43 in the 100 and 200 metres events and ran with the aid of carbon fibre transtibial artificial limbs. She competed in T44 (single below knee incapacity) events though she was classified in T43 (double below knee). She announced her retirement in June 2021.
Personal Marlou van Rhijn was born on 22 October 1991 in Monnickendam in the Netherlands.
She studied commercial economics at the Johan Cruyff Institute in Amsterdam.
Swimming Until 2009, Van Rhijn was a member of the national team for swimmers with a disability. Amongst others, she was swimming at a World and a European championship. She swam several Dutch national records. She competed in the S9 class and focused on the 50 and 100 meter freestyle. She stopped swimming competitively in 2010 due to lack of motivation.
Athletics Van Rhijn switched sports in 2010, after being approached by Guido Bonsen, coach of the Dutch Parathletics Team. She did a trial, and was hooked. Van Rhijn became a member of the Dutch Parathletics Team of the Koninklijke Nederlandse Atletiek Unie. Despite qualifying as T43, she competes in the class T44 at the 100 and 200 meters. She qualified for the 2012 Summer Paralympics in May 2012, while competing at the Stadio Olimpico. She was invested as a Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau after winning her Paralympic medals.
She left the national paralympic team. She started training after the Paralympic Games in Ookmeer, Amsterdam with her new coach Parcy Marte, who also trains non-paralympic people.
In the build up to the 2016 Summer Paralympics she was supportive of Shardea Arias de la Cruz when she decided to create a Paralympic committee and team for the small island nation of Aruba.
Achievements
Athletics Time (s)ResultsDateEventLocation100 m (sport class T44)13.02(Paralympic Record)Gold17 September 20162016 Summer ParalympicsRio de Janeiro, Brazil13.22(world record; personal best)heats1 September 20122012 Summer ParalympicsLondon, United Kingdom13.27Silver2 September 20122012 Summer ParalympicsLondon, United Kingdom13.62Gold27 June 2012IPC Athletics European ChampionshipsStadskanaal, Netherlands200 m (sport class T44)26.17(Paralympic Record)Gold15 September 20162016 Summer ParalympicsRio de Janeiro, Brazil26.18(world record; personal best)Gold2 September 20122012 Summer ParalympicsLondon, United Kingdom26.97series5 September 20122012 Summer ParalympicsLondon, United Kingdom
Swimming Time (s)ResultsDateEventLocation50 m Breaststroke (sport class SB8)51.80(personal best)n/a8 March 2009n/aEsbjerg, Denmark50 m Freestyle (sport class S9)34.34(personal best)n/a10 May 2009n/aAntwerp, Belgium100 m Freestyle (sport class S9)1:13.02(personal best)n/a24 October 2009n/aReykjavík, Iceland200 m Freestyle (sport class S9) 2:42.44(personal best)n/a29 May 2009n/aBerlin, Germany400 m Freestyle (sport class S9)5:32.36(personal best)n/a21 October 2009n/aReykjavík, Iceland
References
External links
Marlou van Rhijn at the London 2012 Paralympics (archived) Marlou van Rhijn at Atletiek.nl (archived)