Jasper Van Mierlo Retires From Swimming … For Now

CASERTA – Dutch swimmer Jasper Van Mierlo feels he has been forced to retire from competitive swimming at 24 years old, stuck between the pressures of earning enough money to afford to train in Italy and the inability to return to the Netherlands because of his international training.

In an interview with Italian news website swimbiz.it, Van Mierlo says he has been unable to pay the costs associated with training with Andrea Di Nino’s professional squad in Italy. He noted that no other options for a training location currently exist, and that the Dutch swimming federation will not allow him to train in his home country with the national team because he decided to leave Holland for Di Nino’s team.

“It was also impossible to find another professional team in a short period of time and so close to Rio 2016,” Van Mierlo said.

Van Mierlo was a three-time Dutch national champion in the 50 freestyle. He moved to Italy with the goal of not only making his first Olympic team, but swimming in the 50 free final in Rio de Janeiro.

“My ultimate dream takes 21 seconds into the final of the 50 meters freestyle at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016,” he wrote on his website. “Nothing represents such a huge adrenaline rush as the 50-meter freestyle. Everything has to be right: timing, technique, speed.”

But there is a glimmer of hope for Van Mierlo. He said he’s entertaining the thought of emulating Arkady Vyatchanin’s plan to represent another country in Rio. He says representing Italy in the pool is a possibility, but even if that does not happen, he’ll always hold a soft spot for the country he’s lived in for nearly two years.

“Italy made me a better person in several aspects,” he told swimbiz.it. “First it made me a better swimmer both mentally and physically. Improved my speed, my start, finish and turns. But I also learned to have a better dolphin kick – and, as a man – also made me stronger mentally, I learned to live on my own, and focus only on swimming. I’ve met wonderful people who I learned from a lot! I will defenitely come back to Italy one day, maybe for work, maybe for swimming or maybe just for a holiday. Overall, I have had an amazing time in my swimming career.”

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Harmilee Cousin, IIII

9 years ago

We have some good Post-Grad / Pro training groups here in the US…just saying.

Angelica

9 years ago

In the previous six months my life has carried out a 360.