Originally a swimmer, Rob Barel became interested in triathlon after meeting a group of Americans training for the Hawaii Ironman. Competing in a time when triathlon was still an emerging sport, Barel collected a large collection of titles and medals. He won the inaugural long distance World Championships in 1994 (and was runner-up in 1997 and 1998) as well as the first three European Championships in the Olympic distance, 1985-1987. In addition, he won three European middle distance titles (1986, 1988 and 1994) and eleven national titles. When triathlon became an Olympic sport, Barel fought back from his dismissal from the Dutch team, and qualified to compete in the Sydney Olympics at age 42. Barel briefly retired after the Games, but returned to compete in national events, and even won the 2008 European Cross Triathlon title.
Netherlands