FOR THE RECORD:
Olympic Games (2-time Olympian)
1 Gold
World Championships
1 Gold, 2 Silver
Open Water Swimming World Cup
2 Gold, 4 Silver
European Championships
4 Gold
The Netherlands’ Ferry Weertman is one of the most accomplished open water swimmers of his generation.
In 2011, Weertman decided to focus on international open water swimming after he won a bronze medal at the European Open Water Championships in Navia, Spain. That same year, he finished first in the LEN Cup final standings and finished sixth at the European Championships in Italy. In 2014, Ferry won his first European title in the 10k in Berlin and was named the SwimSwam Open Water Swimmer of the Year. Weertman then finished second in the 10k and the team event at the 2015 World Championships in Kazan, Russia.
Weertman achieved the pinnacle of his sport at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, capturing gold in the 10-kilometer open water event. In a dramatic and closely contested finish, he touched just ahead of the field to secure the Olympic title, cementing his place in history as one of the Netherlands’ great aquatic champions.
Weertman’s success extended far beyond the Olympic stage. Known for his tactical intelligence, endurance and composure in high-pressure races, Weertman was a constant podium contender in the world’s most demanding open water competitions.
He followed his Olympic title with another gold medal at the 2017 World Championships in Hungary. In 2018, he became the European Champion for the third time in a row and won gold with the Dutch mixed team in the 4x1250m relay. He also won the overall World Series title and FINA named Ferry Open Water Swimmer of the Year for the second time.
Over the course of his career, Ferry won every major international 10 km title at least once and finished it up with a seventh-place showing at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo
In September, 2022, Ferry married fellow 2026 ISHOF inductee Ranomi Kromowidjojo. The couple had a baby girl, Livia, in February of this year. He also serves as the volunteer vice chair of the World Aquatics Technical Open Water Swimming Committee.
Throughout his career, he represented the Netherlands with distinction, contributing to a proud tradition of Dutch excellence in aquatic sports.
