Marcel Wouda

Marcel Reinier Wouda, born January 23, 1972 in Tilburg, Netherlands is a former swimmer, who became Holland's first world champion when he won the world title in the 200 individual medley at the FINA World Championships in Perth, Australia in 1998.

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Wouda grew up in Uden, where he joined swimming club De Zeester at a very young age. His trainers were Martien Swinkels and then Rob Kennis, who brought him to the top of Dutch swimming. Wouda made his olympic debut at the 1992 Olympic Games, where he was the sole male in the Dutch squad of eight females. Afterwards he moved to the United States, where he joined The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, under the guidance of trainer-coach Jon Urbanchek.

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Two years later Wouda moved back to The Netherlands, where trainer-coach Jacco Verhaeren brought him back to the top. With two world records on short course (25 metres) and a world title in 1998 (long course) Wouda was responsible for the rebirth of Dutch swimming.

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Unfortenately for him it turned out to be that his physique wasn't good enough any more for the 2000 Olympic Games, in which he altough won a bronze medal in the 800 freestyle relay. In the aftermath of the Sydney Olympics Wouda resigned from swimming. Six months later a Dutch journalist from Dutch daily NRC Handelsblad, Mark Hoogstad, revealed a book in which Wouda was the main character. It describes the resurrection of Dutch swimming at the hand of Wouda's career.

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Wouda currently is the head coach of Dutch junior swimming.

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January 23: January 23 is the 23rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 342 days remaining, 343 in leap years....

1972: 1972 was a leap year that started on a Saturday....

Tilburg: Tilburg is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, located in the southern province of Noord-Brabant....

Marcel Wouda related Images and Photos (experimental)

Marcel Achard and Jeanne Moreau 1958	Artist Marcel Duchamp Attending a Texas Art Show	Artist Marcel Duchamp Attending a Texas Art Show	Marcel Proust French Writer Relaxing on an Ornate Sofa
French Horn by Marcel Auguste Raoux Paris circa 1826	Stuart Whitman and Marcel Bozzuffi: Le Jour et L'Heure 1963	Pyjamas Designed by Marcel Rochas	Vincent Scotto and Marcel Pagnol on The Set of Jofroi 1933
Jean Gabin Roland Lesaffre and Marcel Carné: Líair De Paris 1954	The Murder of Etienne Marcel	The Palace of Ctesiphon from "L'Art Antique de La Perse" by Marcel Dieulafoy Published 1884-85