Leiden University: Olympic gold for Industrial Ecology student Dirk Uittenbogaard

Dirk Uittenbogaard, a student on the Delft-Leiden Master’s in Industrial Ecology, has won a gold medal for rowing at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Uittenbogaard took gold in the men’s quadruple sculls, together with Abe Wiersma, Tone Wieten and Koen Metsemakers.

It was a thrilling race, for Dutch viewers in the night of Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 July. Dirk Uittenbogaard caught a crab just after the start, leaving the Dutch trailing behind. But they soon overcame their slow start and, in an enormous surge, took gold.

In the photo, l-r Dirk Uittenbogaard, Abe Wiersma, Tone Wieten and Koen Metsemakers with their gold medals.

Dirk and his team have won the first Olympic gold for the Netherlands in these Games. It is also the first gold medal for men’s rowing in 25 years.