Each and every little girl and boy has hopes and dreams of excelling in all the shortest possible time in sports, arts or even in class. It has been a common thing in the world for us to cultivate the seed of a dream before knowing the life lessons that the world has in stock for us. However, for Rogier Dorsman, it was not like this at all, and he spoke out about this matter.
The 25-year-old swimmer, who tonight won the gold in the men’s 200m SM11 final by defending his Paralympic champion title, was born with this disability and began swimming as a child, not to achieve Paralympic gold medals, let alone two, and set world records.
“When I was six, like, okay, I really don’t know what I want to do but it seems I like swimming so let’s do it!” But at that time it was just a sport interest for him. Then, when he became visually impaired and he realized that he had a gift in the Paralympic swimming world, it was just great to be here, he said.
“Most people, as children, always dreamed of becoming the best in some sport we preferred most; I did not.” I am lucky to be the Paralympic Champion once again. It is a rather strange feeling.”
Swimming is a sport that Rogier embraced from natural affection for the activity. Having begun his swimming venture when he was at the age of six, he strongly feels that swimming is a part of his DNA.
“I have been swimming from the early age of six; probably it is in my genes. My granddad is a 40-year-old official, dad is a water polo player, mom was a swimmer, two of my aunts are also swimmers and out of six grandchildren, four of them are swimmers,” he added.
But even it was not always comfortable for Rogier. In the beginning of 2012, he started losing his vision, and the once-natural swimmer realized that the essence of training is not there anymore.
“I had to learn to swim again. Due to the effects of the tapping, my swimming deteriorated gradually, so it took me a while to relearn it with the tapping. In the end, I was glad I could swim still. And what’s better than making a job out of your hobby? I was glad I did.
Despite being a Paralympic swimmer for several years and newly a two-time gold medalist, Rogier occasionally wonders if he feels the same races as others do.
Rogier said that regarding his vision impairment, he relies on his colleagues.
“Come to think of it, when I am in the water, I do feel a lot but not necessarily things that happened out there. My team is always helpful in calming me down and making me let go of those feelings. While in the water, it is only me feeling lonely and, at times, suffocating. Outside in the pool, my team is very useful in telling me how I am doing and things I can’t see for myself.
In other words, while Rogier was losing one of his senses, at the same time, the love to swim transformed into the passion towards the pool.
“Sometimes the water is my hectic stress relief source. There was once when I was becoming visually impaired, and the hospital kept delivering bed negative test results with their diagnoses,” she emphasized. “Then I would say, Just let me swim because then I don’t have to handle anything.”
The more natural love for the sport developed in Rogier, the more extend the positive results and get the first Paralympic gold medal during the Games in Tokyo in 2020. The prospect of coming back to Paralympics this year to defend his title was something he was sure he could handle; however, he could not have been completely sure till before the final race.
He added: “When you are in two races close to each other and where you did not get the result you wanted, you begin to have doubt in yourself.”
As it is pointed out, in any of the uncertain situations, Rogier finds support among his team, which he should require.
“After heats, we just stood and listened to the crap that came out of my mouth and told me not to worry; all the hard work in the gym and pool proved that I am so much better and stronger now. I knew it was my turn—I just had to wait for my time.
This is a point that Rogier has in common with most fellow Paralympic champions: the desire to keep on competing and feeling like a human being with all the accompanying worries.
“I know I have it, and I know I can do it, but having those feelings is human—everyone has them. The best you can do is tell the people around you. They will listen and, in the end, will says, ‘ Don’t worry, it will be alright’.”
The Dutch swimmer will be flying back to his homeland in the Netherlands, where it will not take long to immerse himself in something other than water. But maintaining the close contact with his halogenic friend is also something that is equally important.
“I am studying for sport marketing. That will be my business after Paralympics. For fun, you know I may have some swimming. Not that I am planning to do a job after the Paralympics for fun; I will just swim to be addicted to the chlorine.”
