Sjoerd Hamburger
Encyclopedia
Sjoerd Hamburger is a rower
from the Netherlands
, who competes in the single scull
.
Hamburger was born and raised in Oldeberkoop where he played korfball
and was involved in training for triathlon
s. When he was 18 he moved to Utrecht
to study and started rowing in an Eight
at the Orca Rowing Club
. The Orca Men's Eight won a silver medal at the European Youth Championships that year. In 2003 Hamburger rowed in the Orca Coxed four
which came sixth at the World Under-23 Rowing Championships. On the advice of his coach Peter van der Noort, Hamburger started training in the Scull
and thanks to a successful performance at the Dutch National Championships he was selected to take part in the World Cup
. At the end of the year Hamburger won the bronze medal at the Under-23 World Championships. In December 2004 he was nominated alongside Meindert Klem
and Eva de Jong as a Netherlands Talent Athlete. Later that month he became European Ergometer
Champion.
In March 2005 Hamburger was recognised as the Netherlands most talented athlete. During the World Cup finals in Luzern he finished in sixth position and during the semi finals he broke the Dutch national record to scull 6:46.32. Two weeks later Hamburger became World Under-23 Champion in Amsterdam
. At the Senior World Championships in Japan
in September he reached 7th position after winning the B-final. In 2006 Hamburger achieved 8th position in the World, and managed to beat his own Dutch national record. During the first World Cup meeting of 2007 he came sixth in Linz
. With a 7th position at the second World Cup in Amsterdam he showed greater stability in his performance. Thanks to a fifth position in the World Cup finals in Luzern Hamburger earned himself a nomination for the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing
.
The first World Cup of the 2008 season gave Hamburger an 8th spot in Munich
. This was followed by a 7th place in the second World Cup in Luzern. After that he went to a training camp in South Korea
to prepare for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Hamburger was also a member of the 2009-winning Oxford University Boat Club
first eight that won the 155th University Boat Race
on 29 March 2009. A year later he became the first non-English speaking foreigner to hold the position of President of the Oxford University Boat Club
but was part of the losing crew in the 156th University Boat Race on 3 April 2010. He is one of the tallest rowers ever to have competed in the Boat Race, standing at 206 cm (6 feet 9.1 inches) and weighing 100kg (15.7 stone). Whilst at Oxford, Hamburger rowed in the Oriel College
1st VIII in Summer Eights, bumping Pembroke College to finish 2nd on the river.
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
from the Netherlands
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...
, who competes in the single scull
Single scull
A single scull is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for a single person who propels the boat with two oars, one in each hand....
.
Hamburger was born and raised in Oldeberkoop where he played korfball
Korfball
Korfball is a mixed gender team sport, with similarities to netball and basketball. A team consists of eight players; four female and four male. A team also includes a coach. It was founded in the Netherlands in 1902 by Nico Broekhuysen. In the Netherlands there are around 580 clubs, and over a...
and was involved in training for triathlon
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...
s. When he was 18 he moved to Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
to study and started rowing in an Eight
Eight (rowing)
An Eight is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for eight rowers, who propel the boat with sweep oars, and is steered by a coxswain, or cox....
at the Orca Rowing Club
Orca Rowing Club
Algemene Utrechtse Studenten Roeivereniging ORCA -History:The General Utrecht Student Rowing Club ORCA, The Netherlands, located on the Merwedekanaal at Utrecht , was founded on 24 October 1970 out of the fusion of two older Utrecht student rowing clubs, Charon and Batavier. During a general...
. The Orca Men's Eight won a silver medal at the European Youth Championships that year. In 2003 Hamburger rowed in the Orca Coxed four
Coxed four
A coxed four is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for four persons who propel the boat with sweep oars and is steered by a cox....
which came sixth at the World Under-23 Rowing Championships. On the advice of his coach Peter van der Noort, Hamburger started training in the Scull
Sculling
Sculling generally refers to a method of using oars to propel watercraft in which the oar or oars touch the water on both the port and starboard sides of the craft, or over the stern...
and thanks to a successful performance at the Dutch National Championships he was selected to take part in the World Cup
Rowing World Cup
The World Rowing Cup is an international rowing competition organized by FISA . It first began in 1997 and comprises three regattas held throughout early summer. In each event points are awarded to the top seven finishing boats and an overall winner determined after the last world cup regatta...
. At the end of the year Hamburger won the bronze medal at the Under-23 World Championships. In December 2004 he was nominated alongside Meindert Klem
Meindert Klem
Meindert Klem is a rower from the Netherlands.Klem qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing with the Dutch eights forming a team with Olaf van Andel, Jozef Klaassen, Rogier Blink, David Kuiper, Diederik Simon, Olivier Siegelaar, Mitchel Steenman and cox Peter Wiersum.Klem began rowing in...
and Eva de Jong as a Netherlands Talent Athlete. Later that month he became European Ergometer
Indoor rower
An indoor rower, or rowing machine, is a machine used to simulate the action of watercraft rowing for the purpose of exercise or training for rowing. Indoor rowing has become established as a sport in its own right...
Champion.
In March 2005 Hamburger was recognised as the Netherlands most talented athlete. During the World Cup finals in Luzern he finished in sixth position and during the semi finals he broke the Dutch national record to scull 6:46.32. Two weeks later Hamburger became World Under-23 Champion in 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...
. At the Senior World Championships in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in September he reached 7th position after winning the B-final. In 2006 Hamburger achieved 8th position in the World, and managed to beat his own Dutch national record. During the first World Cup meeting of 2007 he came sixth in Linz
Linz
Linz is the third-largest city of Austria and capital of the state of Upper Austria . It is located in the north centre of Austria, approximately south of the Czech border, on both sides of the river Danube. The population of the city is , and that of the Greater Linz conurbation is about...
. With a 7th position at the second World Cup in Amsterdam he showed greater stability in his performance. Thanks to a fifth position in the World Cup finals in Luzern Hamburger earned himself a nomination 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...
.
The first World Cup of the 2008 season gave Hamburger an 8th spot in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. This was followed by a 7th place in the second World Cup in Luzern. After that he went to a training camp in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
to prepare for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Hamburger was also a member of the 2009-winning Oxford University Boat Club
Oxford University Boat Club
The Oxford University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Oxford, England, located on the River Thames at Oxford. The club was founded in the early 19th century....
first eight that won the 155th University Boat Race
The Boat Race
The event generally known as "The Boat Race" is a rowing race in England between the Oxford University Boat Club and the Cambridge University Boat Club, rowed between competing eights each spring on the River Thames in London. It takes place generally on the last Saturday of March or the first...
on 29 March 2009. A year later he became the first non-English speaking foreigner to hold the position of President of the Oxford University Boat Club
Oxford University Boat Club
The Oxford University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Oxford, England, located on the River Thames at Oxford. The club was founded in the early 19th century....
but was part of the losing crew in the 156th University Boat Race on 3 April 2010. He is one of the tallest rowers ever to have competed in the Boat Race, standing at 206 cm (6 feet 9.1 inches) and weighing 100kg (15.7 stone). Whilst at Oxford, Hamburger rowed in the Oriel College
Oriel College
Oriel College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. Located in Oriel Square, the college has the distinction of being the oldest royal foundation in Oxford...
1st VIII in Summer Eights, bumping Pembroke College to finish 2nd on the river.