Tiemen Groen

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameTiemen•Groen
Used nameTiemen•Groen
Born6 July 1946 in Follega, Friesland (NED)
Died26 October 2021 in Malmesbury, Western Cape (RSA)
Measurements185 cm / 85 kg
NOC Netherlands

Biography

Needing to cycle 40 km (one way) to high school, a young Tiemen Groen decided to to cover the distance as fast as possible. This got him interested in cycling, and he soon became a promising junior. His breakthrough came in 1964. First, he claimed the national junior title in road cycling, winning after a 50 km solo. He then proceeded to take the national amateur title in the track pursuit. At the World Championships at the Parc des Princes Velodrome in Paris, he won the world title in the same event. This made him an instant medal contender for Tokyo 1964, just one month later. These high expectations put a lot of pressure on Groen, and he was unable to live up to them, finishing fourth in Japan.

That seemed just a small bump in Groen’s rise to the top, though. In 1965 and 1966, he defended his rainbow jersey and, after turning professional in 1967, Groen also won the world title with the pros, but that would be his last moment of glory. After two years with pro road team Caballero, his contract was terminated due to lack of results, and Groen retired in disappointment. He then opened an antique shop, later on opening a second one and travelling a lot to find objects to buy and sell. In 1995 he retired to South Africa.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1964 Summer Olympics Cycling Track (Cycling) NED Tiemen Groen
Individual Pursuit, 4,000 metres, Men (Olympic) 4