Sander de Graaf
{{short description|Dutch rower}}
{{family name hatnote|de Graaf|Graaf|lang=Dutch}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Sander de Graaf
| image = Graaf2.jpg
| caption = De Graaf in 2022
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1995|6|13}}
| birth_place = Made, Netherlands{{cite web |url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/rowing/athlete-profile-n1476553-de-graaf-sander.htm |title=Sander de Graaf |work=Tokyo 2020 Olympics |publisher=Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games |access-date=24 July 2021 |archive-date=23 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723174321/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/rowing/athlete-profile-n1476553-de-graaf-sander.htm |url-status=dead }}
| height = 2.06 m{{cite web |url=https://roeien.nl/roeier/sander-de-graaf/ |title=Sander de Graaf |publisher=Roeien.nl |access-date=24 July 2021}}
| country = Netherlands
| sport = Rowing
| education = Eindhoven University of Technology
| olympics = Tokyo 2020 M4-
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport|Men's rowing}}
{{MedalCountry|the {{NED}}}}
{{Medal|Olympic}}
{{Medal|Silver|2024 Paris|Eight}}
{{MedalComp|World Championships}}
{{MedalSilver|2023 Belgrade|Eight}}
{{MedalBronze|2022 Račice|Coxless four}}
{{MedalComp|European Championships}}
{{MedalGold|2020 Poznań|Coxless four}}
{{MedalSilver|2022 Munich|Coxless four}}
{{MedalBronze|2023 Bled|Eight}}
}}
Sander de Graaf (born 13 June 1995) is a Dutch rower. He won a gold medal at the 2020 European Championships and competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics, both in the men's coxless four events.
Career
De Graaf joined a rowing club during his first year at Eindhoven University of Technology in 2013.{{cite news |url=https://www.cursor.tue.nl/en/news/2020/januari/week-3/tue-student-rows-from-dream-to-olympic-goal/ |title=TU/e student rows from dream to Olympic goal |work=Cursor |publisher=Eindhoven University of Technology |first=Monique |last=van de Ven |date=23 January 2020 |access-date=24 July 2021}}
He competed in the 2017 World U23 Championships, partnering with Jochem Kostelijk to finish seventh in the coxless pair event.{{cite news |url=https://roeien.nl/toproeien/%F0%9F%9A%A32-wereldtitels-op-de-laatste-dag-van-de-wk-u23/ |title=?2 wereldtitels op de laatste dag van de WK U23! |publisher=Roeien.nl |date=23 July 2017 |access-date=27 July 2021 |language=nl}} In 2018, he paired with Vincent Klaassens at the World Championships, the World Rowing Cup and the European Championships. They also took a bronze medal at the Dutch national championships.{{cite news |url=https://www.cursor.tue.nl/en/news/2018/april/week-4/thetans-win-rowing-gold-and-bronze/ |title=Thêtans win rowing gold and bronze |work=Cursor |publisher=Eindhoven University of Technology |first=Judith |last=van Gaal |date=26 April 2018 |access-date=28 July 2021}}
De Graaf transitioned to the coxless four event thereafter. He teamed with Freek Robbers, Jan van der Bij and Nelson Ritsema in the final stage of the 2019 World Rowing Cup in Rotterdam,{{cite news |url=https://teamnl.org/upcoming/2019/07/wereldbeker-roeien-in-rotterdam |title=Wereldbeker roeien in Rotterdam |work=TeamNL |date=14 July 2019 |access-date=28 July 2021 |language=nl}} where they placed seventh. In early 2020, national team head coach Mark Emke switched out veteran Vincent van der Want in favor of de Graaf on the Dutch boat.{{cite news |url=https://nlroei.nl/vierzonder-van-der-want-eruit-de-graaf-erin/ |title=Vierzonder: Van der Want eruit, De Graaf erin |work=NLroei.nl |first=Anne |last=De Lange |date=18 January 2020 |access-date=28 July 2021 |language=nl}} The new crew composed of de Graaf, van der Bij, Ritsema and Boudewijn Röell won the gold medal at the 2020 European Championships in Poznań.{{cite news |url=https://www.bndestem.nl/regiosport/geen-medaille-voor-roeier-sander-de-graaf-uit-made-vier-zonder-eindigt-als-zesde-in-finale~a9e61c9b/ |title=Geen medaille voor roeier Sander de Graaf uit Made: vier-zonder eindigt als zesde in finale |work=BN DeStem |date=28 July 2021 |access-date=28 July 2021 |language=nl}} They were unable to repeat as European champions in 2021, however, finishing in fourth place.{{cite news |url=https://www.nu.nl/sport-overig/6127072/twee-nederlandse-titels-bij-ek-roeien-verrassende-nederlaag-vlaggenschip.html |title=Twee Nederlandse titels bij EK roeien, verrassende nederlaag vlaggenschip |work=NU.nl |date=11 April 2021 |access-date=28 July 2021 |language=nl}} De Graaf competed with the crew the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, which they had qualified for due to their performance at the 2019 World Championships prior to his inclusion. At the Tokyo Games he helped the crew reach the final via repechage, where they ultimately placed sixth.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons}}
- {{sports links|properties=-P9822}}
- {{TeamNL|sander-de-graaf|old_id=6501-sander-de-graaf}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Graaf, Sander de}}
Category:World Rowing Championships medalists for the Netherlands
Category:Olympic rowers for the Netherlands
Category:Rowers at the 2020 Summer Olympics
Category:Eindhoven University of Technology alumni
Category:Rowers from North Brabant
Category:People from Drimmelen