Tim Schrijver

Biography

Tim Schrijver made his move to the senior national team in 2015 after racing in two World U23 Championships, highlighted by a gold medal in the coxed four in 2014. With the coxless four, dubbed the “True North Four”, he won bronze at the 2015 World Cup stop in Varese, Italy and then narrowly missed the world championship podium with their fourth place finish. In between those two events, he won two gold medals at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto as a member of the four and the eight. Collegiately, he was a dominant force for Brock University. In four seasons racing for the Badgers he went to the Canadian University Rowing Championships every year, finishing second in the eight in 2014, second in the eight in 2013 and 2012, and first in the pair in 2012. He also represented Canada at the 2014 University Rowing Championships, winning a silver medal in the coxless four. Following a back issue in 2013, Schrijver has had to overcome numerous injuries to his knees, elbows and ribs since 2014. That has forced him to come to terms with the need to balance quality training with injury maintenance. He didn’t compete at the second World Cup of 2016 to ensure he would be healthy for training in the lead-up to Rio 2016. In his Olympic debut, Schrijver and the four advanced to the A final, finishing sixth.

Getting to know…

Family: Parents Leo and Gerda Schrijver… Older brother Roy, younger twin brothers Jay and Eric… Getting into the Sport: Began rowing at age 18… Had played lots of sports in high school but wanted to try something new… Met the head coach at Brock, Peter Somerwil, who was very enthusiastic that he try out; that energy made him be impulsive and give it a try… After his first speed burst in an eight shell he had butterflies and was hooked.… Has wanted to row for Canada since watching his first Olympic race on YouTube after joining the novice rowers at Brock… Outside Interests: Graduated from Brock University in 2015 with Honours Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology… Enjoys playing card games, watching TV, reading and attempting to learn a new language… Odds and Ends: Favourite motto: “If it was easy everyone would do it”… Inspired by 2012 Olympic champion Mahé Drysdale because he has struggled through adversity and dominates as well as teammate Conlin McCabe because he has accelerated through the national program… Before a race tries to make eye contact with the opposition and wish them luck at the start…  Has ‘lucky socks’ but there are a few that get cycled through for hygiene purposes… Nicknames: Ivan, Drago, Dulph…