Sander Berk
Encyclopedia
Sander Johannes Gerardes Berk (born July 10, 1979 in Nieuwveen
) is a Dutch
triathlete
.
Berk won his first run-bike-run event as a junior on March 26, 1995 in Langedijk
. That same year he also became Dutch Junior Triathlon Champion in Waarland
and he won triathlon races in Aalsmeer
and Spijkenisse
. He added another two run-bike-run wins in Molenschot and Uithoorn
. In 1996 he won a race in Leiden and he defended his triathlon title in Aalsmeer. After winning a run-bike-run in Steenwijk
and a triathlon in Xanten
in 1997 he did not succeed in any race in 1998. In 1999, his last year as a junior he became Dutch run-bike-run champion in Venray
. He also won a run-bike-run in Uithoorn and a triathlon in Enschede
.
His senior career started well with a triathlon win in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel
as well as a run-bike-run win in Uithoorn. He defended his Uithoorn title in 2001 and also won a triathlon in Vinkeveen
. His first international triathlon win as a senior came in South Africa
in 2002, when he won the race in Klerksdorp. Besides becoming Dutch national champion in 2003 he also won two triathlons in Leuven
and Aalsmeer. In Aalsmeer he also won an aquathlon
and he won another race in Amersfoort
. His biggest successes in 2004 were in Belgium
where he won the team triathlon in Wachtebeke
and the individual triathlon in Antoing
. He also succeeded in the Aalsmeer triathlon again.
After some injuries in 2005 he returned into competition in 2006 winning two duathlon
s in Klerksdorp and Pretoria
, both in South Africa. Again he was able to win the Aalsmeer triathlon and also in that year he and his team mates won the team triathlon in Enschede
. 2007 was his best year to date in his career with a total of eight triathlon wins (Potchefstroom (twice), Amsterdam
, Aalsmeer, Germiston, Midmar Dam
, Roodeplaat Dam
and Vanderbijlpark). He also won the Resolution Health-Energade Series. With a win in Stein
and some other good results in Bloemfontein
and Richards Bay Berk qualified himself for the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing
.
Nieuwveen
Nieuwveen is a town in the Dutch province of South Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Nieuwkoop , and lies about 9 km northeast of Alphen aan den Rijn.In 2001, the town of Nieuwveen had 2806 inhabitants...
) is a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
triathlete
Triathlon
A triathlon is a multi-sport event involving the completion of three continuous and sequential endurance events. While many variations of the sport exist, triathlon, in its most popular form, involves swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances...
.
Berk won his first run-bike-run event as a junior on March 26, 1995 in Langedijk
Langedijk
Langedijk is a municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland and the region of West-Frisia. Langedijk received city rights in 1415.-Population centres :...
. That same year he also became Dutch Junior Triathlon Champion in Waarland
Waarland
Waarland is a town in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Harenkarspel, and lies about 6 km north of Heerhugowaard.In 2001, the town of Waarland had 1423 inhabitants...
and he won triathlon races in Aalsmeer
Aalsmeer
Aalsmeer is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Its name is derived from the Dutch for eel and lake . Aalsmeer is bordered by the Westeinderplassen lake, the largest open water of the Randstad, and the Ringvaart Canal...
and Spijkenisse
Spijkenisse
Spijkenisse is a town and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. The municipality had a population of 74,482 in 2006, and covers an area of 30.23 km²...
. He added another two run-bike-run wins in Molenschot and Uithoorn
Uithoorn
Uithoorn is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.-Population centres :The municipality of Uithoorn consists of the following cities, towns, villages and/or districts: De Kwakel and Uithoorn.- History :...
. In 1996 he won a race in Leiden and he defended his triathlon title in Aalsmeer. After winning a run-bike-run in Steenwijk
Steenwijk
Steenwijk is a city in the Dutch province of Overijssel. It is located in the municipality of Steenwijkerland. It is the largest town of the municipality.Steenwijk received city rights in 1327...
and a triathlon in Xanten
Xanten
Xanten is a historic town in the North Rhine-Westphalia state of Germany, located in the district of Wesel.Xanten is known for the Archaeological Park or archaeological open air museum , its medieval picturesque city centre with Xanten Cathedral and many museums, its large man-made lake for...
in 1997 he did not succeed in any race in 1998. In 1999, his last year as a junior he became Dutch run-bike-run champion in Venray
Venray
Venray is a municipality and a town in Limburg, Netherlands, 115 kilometers southeast of Amsterdam. Venray has about 43,000 inhabitants.- Population centres :...
. He also won a run-bike-run in Uithoorn and a triathlon in Enschede
Enschede
Enschede , also known as Eanske in the local dialect of Twents, is a municipality and a city in the eastern Netherlands in the province of Overijssel and in the Twente region...
.
His senior career started well with a triathlon win in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel
Ouderkerk aan de Amstel
Ouderkerk aan de Amstel is a town in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is largely a part of the municipality of Ouder-Amstel, and lies about 9 km south of Amsterdam. A small part of the town lies in the municipality of Amstelveen....
as well as a run-bike-run win in Uithoorn. He defended his Uithoorn title in 2001 and also won a triathlon in Vinkeveen
Vinkeveen
Vinkeveen is a town in the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is a part of the municipality of De Ronde Venen, and lies about 18 km south of Amsterdam....
. His first international triathlon win as a senior came in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in 2002, when he won the race in Klerksdorp. Besides becoming Dutch national champion in 2003 he also won two triathlons in Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
and Aalsmeer. In Aalsmeer he also won an aquathlon
Aquathlon
The sport of aquathlon consists of a continuous, two-stage race involving swimming followed by running. The International Triathlon Union and its member federation organizations sanction competitions and govern the sport...
and he won another race in Amersfoort
Amersfoort
Amersfoort is a municipality and the second largest city of the province of Utrecht in central Netherlands. The city is growing quickly but has a well-preserved and protected medieval centre. Amersfoort is one of the largest railway junctions in the country, because of its location on two of the...
. His biggest successes in 2004 were in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
where he won the team triathlon in Wachtebeke
Wachtebeke
Wachtebeke is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the town of Wachtebeke proper, and a smaller town: Overslag. On January 1, 2006 Wachtebeke had a total population of 6,881...
and the individual triathlon in Antoing
Antoing
Antoing is a Walloon municipality of Belgium located in the province of Hainaut. It consists of the former municipalities of Antoing, Maubray, Péronnes-lez-Antoing, Bruyelle, Calonne and Fontenoy.-History:...
. He also succeeded in the Aalsmeer triathlon again.
After some injuries in 2005 he returned into competition in 2006 winning two duathlon
Duathlon
Duathlon is an athletic event that consists of a running leg, followed by a cycling leg and then another running leg in a format bearing some resemblance to triathlons. The International Triathlon Union governs the sport internationally....
s in Klerksdorp and Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
, both in South Africa. Again he was able to win the Aalsmeer triathlon and also in that year he and his team mates won the team triathlon in Enschede
Enschede
Enschede , also known as Eanske in the local dialect of Twents, is a municipality and a city in the eastern Netherlands in the province of Overijssel and in the Twente region...
. 2007 was his best year to date in his career with a total of eight triathlon wins (Potchefstroom (twice), Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, Aalsmeer, Germiston, Midmar Dam
Midmar Dam
Midmar Dam is a dam and recreation area near Pietermaritzburg , South Africa. Boating, swimming, waterskiing, picnicing, and fishing are popular pastimes at Midmar Dam. Each year, the Midmar Mile swimming race is held there, which organizers call "the world's largest open water swimming event"....
, Roodeplaat Dam
Roodeplaat Dam
Roodeplaat Dam is a concrete arch dam situated on the Pienaars River , a tributary of the Crocodile River, which flows northwards into the Limpopo River...
and Vanderbijlpark). He also won the Resolution Health-Energade Series. With a win in Stein
Stein
Stein is a German and Norwegian word meaning "stone" and may refer to:* Beer stein* Stein , a beer brewery in Bratislava, Slovakia* USS Stein , a frigate in the U.S...
and some other good results in Bloemfontein
Bloemfontein
Bloemfontein is the capital city of the Free State Province of South Africa; and, as the judicial capital of the nation, one of South Africa's three national capitals – the other two being Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Pretoria, the administrative capital.Bloemfontein is popularly and...
and Richards Bay Berk qualified himself for the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
.
Career highlights
- Triathlon, Potchefstroom, 22-01-2000
- Triathlon, AlmereAlmereAlmere is a planned city and municipality in the province of Flevoland, the Netherlands, bordering Lelystad and Zeewolde. The municipality of Almere comprises the districts Almere Stad, Almere Haven, Almere Buiten, Almere Hout, Almere Poort and Almere Pampus .Almere is the youngest city in the...
, 18-06-2000 - Triathlon, MolMol-Places:* City Municipality of Ljubljana, known after the acronym MOL in Slovene language * Märkisch-Oderland, a rural district of Brandenburg, Germany* Mol, Belgium, a municipality in Belgium* Mol, Serbia, a town in Serbia...
, 10-09-2000 - Triathlon, Ouderkerk aan de AmstelOuderkerk aan de AmstelOuderkerk aan de Amstel is a town in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is largely a part of the municipality of Ouder-Amstel, and lies about 9 km south of Amsterdam. A small part of the town lies in the municipality of Amstelveen....
, 17-09-2000 - Run-bike-run, UithoornUithoornUithoorn is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.-Population centres :The municipality of Uithoorn consists of the following cities, towns, villages and/or districts: De Kwakel and Uithoorn.- History :...
, 22-10-2000 - Triathlon, HoltenHoltenHolten is a small village in the municipality of Rijssen-Holten in the Dutch province of Overijssel, with approximately 10,000 inhabitants. Holten is located in an ample-forested area, just south of the Holterberg. This hill, which is about 65m high, is part of the "Sallandse Heuvelrug" National...
, Dutch Championships, 07-07-2001 - Triathlon, VinkeveenVinkeveenVinkeveen is a town in the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is a part of the municipality of De Ronde Venen, and lies about 18 km south of Amsterdam....
, 05-08-2001 - Triathlon, AalsmeerAalsmeerAalsmeer is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Its name is derived from the Dutch for eel and lake . Aalsmeer is bordered by the Westeinderplassen lake, the largest open water of the Randstad, and the Ringvaart Canal...
, 26-08-2001 - Run-bike-run, Uithoorn, 14-10-2001
- Triathlon, Klerksdorp, 27-01-2002
- Triathlon, Aalsmeer, 25-08-2002
- Triathlon, Amersfoort, 23-03-2003
- Aquathlon, Aalsmeer, 10-05-2003
- Triathlon, GeelGeelGeel is a city located in the Belgian province of Antwerp which acquired the status of a city in the 1980s.It comprises Central-Geel which is constituted of 4 old parishes a/o towns : Sint-Amand, Sint-Dimpna, Holven and Elsum...
, 18-05-2003 - Triathlon, ZundertZundertZundert is a municipality and a town in Noord Brabant, the Netherlands.Zundert lies about 10 metres above Dutch sea level , and is located 15 km south-west of the city of Breda, and 35 km north-east of Antwerp, Belgium...
, Dutch Championships, 01-06-2003 - Triathlon, LeuvenLeuvenLeuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
, 08-06-2003 - Triathlon, Aalsmeer, 31-08-2003
- Triathlon, BloemfonteinBloemfonteinBloemfontein is the capital city of the Free State Province of South Africa; and, as the judicial capital of the nation, one of South Africa's three national capitals – the other two being Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Pretoria, the administrative capital.Bloemfontein is popularly and...
, 28-02-2004 - Team Triathlon, WachtebekeWachtebekeWachtebeke is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the town of Wachtebeke proper, and a smaller town: Overslag. On January 1, 2006 Wachtebeke had a total population of 6,881...
, 01-05-2004 - Triathlon, Zundert, Dutch Championships, 06-06-2004
- Triathlon, VilvoordeVilvoordeVilvoorde is a Belgian municipality in the Flemish province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the city of Vilvoorde proper with its two outlying quarters of Koningslo and Houtem and the small town of Peutie...
, 21-07-2004 - Triathlon, AntoingAntoingAntoing is a Walloon municipality of Belgium located in the province of Hainaut. It consists of the former municipalities of Antoing, Maubray, Péronnes-lez-Antoing, Bruyelle, Calonne and Fontenoy.-History:...
, 25-07-2004 - Triathlon, Lough NeaghLough NeaghLough Neagh, sometimes Loch Neagh, is a large freshwater lake in Northern Ireland. Its name comes .-Geography:With an area of , it is the largest lake in the British Isles and ranks among the forty largest lakes of Europe. Located twenty miles to the west of Belfast, it is approximately twenty...
, 14-08-2004 - Triathlon, WeiswampachWeiswampachWeiswampach is a commune and small town in northern Luxembourg, in the canton of Clervaux., the town of Weiswampach, which lies in the north of the commune, has a population of 648. Other towns within the commune include Binsfeld.-See also:...
, 22-08-2004 - Triathlon, Aalsmeer, 29-08-2004
- Triathlon, Mol, 05-09-2004
- Triathlon, Richard's Bay, 05-03-2005
- Triathlon, MeerhoutMeerhoutMeerhout is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality only comprises the town of Meerhout proper. As of January 1, 2008 Meerhout had a total population of 9,578. The total area is 36.29 km² which gives a population density of 264 inhabitants per km²...
, 29-05-2005 - Triathlon, SteinSteinStein is a German and Norwegian word meaning "stone" and may refer to:* Beer stein* Stein , a beer brewery in Bratislava, Slovakia* USS Stein , a frigate in the U.S...
, 25-06-2005 - Triathlon, Aalsmeer, 28-08-2005
- Triathlon, Potchefstroom, 14-01-2006
- Triathlon, PretoriaPretoriaPretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
, 05-03-2006 - Duathlon, Klerksdorp, 25-03-2006
- Duathlon, Pretoria, 09-04-2006
- Team Triathlon, EnschedeEnschedeEnschede , also known as Eanske in the local dialect of Twents, is a municipality and a city in the eastern Netherlands in the province of Overijssel and in the Twente region...
, 07-05-2006 - Team Triathlon, GladbeckGladbeckGladbeck is a city in the district of Recklinghausen in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.The name ´Gladbeck´ evolves from Low German, originally spoken in the area around Gladbeck. ´Glad´ means something like gleamy and ´beck´ means about brook. However, the brook Gladbeck flows under the ground...
, 21-05-2006 - Triathlon, SteinSteinStein is a German and Norwegian word meaning "stone" and may refer to:* Beer stein* Stein , a beer brewery in Bratislava, Slovakia* USS Stein , a frigate in the U.S...
, Dutch Championships, 01-07-2006 - Triathlon, Aalsmeer, 26-08-2006
- Triathlon, Clanwilliam, 30-09-2006
- Triathlon, WitbankWitbankWitbank , also known as eMalahleni is a city situated on the Highveld of Mpumalanga, South Africa, within the eMalahleni Local Municipality. The name Witbank is Afrikaans for White Ridge and is named after a white sandstone outcrop where wagon transport drivers rested...
, 08-10-2006 - Triathlon, Potchefstroom, 22-10-2006
- Triathlon, Port Elizabeth, 05-11-2006
- Triathlon, Vanderbijlpark, 26-11-2006
- Triathlon, Midmar DamMidmar DamMidmar Dam is a dam and recreation area near Pietermaritzburg , South Africa. Boating, swimming, waterskiing, picnicing, and fishing are popular pastimes at Midmar Dam. Each year, the Midmar Mile swimming race is held there, which organizers call "the world's largest open water swimming event"....
, 03-12-2006 - Triathlon, Potchefstroom, 13-02-2007
- Triathlon, Champs Langebaan, 03-03-2007
- Triathlon, Amsterdam, 10-06-2007
- Triathlon, Aalsmeer, 28-08-2007
- Triathlon, Germiston, 21-10-2007
- Triathlon, Midmar DamMidmar DamMidmar Dam is a dam and recreation area near Pietermaritzburg , South Africa. Boating, swimming, waterskiing, picnicing, and fishing are popular pastimes at Midmar Dam. Each year, the Midmar Mile swimming race is held there, which organizers call "the world's largest open water swimming event"....
, 28-10-2007 - Triathlon, Potchefstroom, 11-11-2007
- Triathlon, Roodeplaat DamRoodeplaat DamRoodeplaat Dam is a concrete arch dam situated on the Pienaars River , a tributary of the Crocodile River, which flows northwards into the Limpopo River...
, 25-11-2007 - Triathlon, Vanderbijlpark, 02-12-2007
- Triathlon, Resolution Health-Energade Series, 10-12-2007
- Triathlon, BloemfonteinBloemfonteinBloemfontein is the capital city of the Free State Province of South Africa; and, as the judicial capital of the nation, one of South Africa's three national capitals – the other two being Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Pretoria, the administrative capital.Bloemfontein is popularly and...
, 23-02-2008 - Triathlon, SteinSteinStein is a German and Norwegian word meaning "stone" and may refer to:* Beer stein* Stein , a beer brewery in Bratislava, Slovakia* USS Stein , a frigate in the U.S...
, Dutch Championships, 21-06-2008 - 31e Olympic Triathlon Beijing, 19-08-2008