After finishing the women's marathon swimming in Paris, Olympic gold medallist Sharon van Rouwendaal paid respect to her late dog Rio.
Following an outstanding swim in the River Seine, the Dutch star grabbed the first gold medal of the day on Thursday.
Although much has been said about the cleanliness, or lack thereof, of the Seine over the Olympics, early in the morning 24 courageous participants entered the 6.2 mile (10km) long race.
Leah Crisp of Team GB finished 20th, but with a time of 2 hours, 3 minutes and 34 seconds, gold went to Van Rouwendaal, ahead of Australia's Moesha Johnson and Italy's Ginevra Taddeucci.
The 30-year-old stated post-race that her dog Rio, named after Rio de Janeiro where she previously won gold in 2016, had passed just before the Paris games, therefore attesting to a very emotional triumph.
"My little dog passed in May," she said to reporters.
I gave him an operation on his lungs in hope that we may live in my house and with my garden after the Olympics together. He passed also and experienced problems following the operation.
Then my world halted and for approximately three weeks I didn't give swimming any thought. He was my little darling.
"But your dad claimed that competitions had kept you apart from him for around seven years. Go one more race and give it all; swim for him.
Thought "let's try it," after getting a tattoo of his paw on her wrist. I swam for him entirely from the heart. I will keep it for him.
Van Rouwendaal's victory is the Netherlands' tenth gold of Paris; with it, they move to ninth in the medal count; Team GB only just ranks fifth with twelve golds at the time of writing.
Thomas Hardy
After finishing the women's marathon swimming in Paris, Olympic gold medallist Sharon van Rouwendaal paid respect to her late dog Rio.
Following an outstanding swim in the River Seine, the Dutch star grabbed the first gold medal of the day on Thursday.
Although much has been said about the cleanliness, or lack thereof, of the Seine over the Olympics, early in the morning 24 courageous participants entered the 6.2 mile (10km) long race.
Leah Crisp of Team GB finished 20th, but with a time of 2 hours, 3 minutes and 34 seconds, gold went to Van Rouwendaal, ahead of Australia's Moesha Johnson and Italy's Ginevra Taddeucci.
The 30-year-old stated post-race that her dog Rio, named after Rio de Janeiro where she previously won gold in 2016, had passed just before the Paris games, therefore attesting to a very emotional triumph.
"My little dog passed in May," she said to reporters.
I gave him an operation on his lungs in hope that we may live in my house and with my garden after the Olympics together. He passed also and experienced problems following the operation.
Then my world halted and for approximately three weeks I didn't give swimming any thought. He was my little darling.
"But your dad claimed that competitions had kept you apart from him for around seven years. Go one more race and give it all; swim for him.
Thought "let's try it," after getting a tattoo of his paw on her wrist. I swam for him entirely from the heart. I will keep it for him.
Van Rouwendaal's victory is the Netherlands' tenth gold of Paris; with it, they move to ninth in the medal count; Team GB only just ranks fifth with twelve golds at the time of writing.