Irene van der Laan is an interior designer by trade, decorating and advising clients on how to make their homes and offices brighter and more organized in a way that reflects their personality.
But Irene’s heart is geared towards the outdoors – specifically the open water. A partial list of her open water swims from 1983 to 2011 include the following races:
• Traversée international du lac St-Jean (42 km World Cup in Canada) in 1983, 1984, 1987, 1997
• Traversée international du lac St-Jean (64 km in Canada) in 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
• Ohrid Marathon (30 km in Macedonia) in 1996, 1997, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
• Sabăc Marathon Swim (19 km in Serbia) in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008
• La Patagones – Viedma FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix (15 km in UAE) in 2008
• Rosario Marathon Acuatico (15 km in Argentina) in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2008
• Cañon del Sumidero Maraton (15 km in Mexico) in 2005, 2007
• London (10 km in England) in 2005, 2006
• Seville (10 km in Spain) in 2006
• Repulse Bay (10 km in Hong Kong) in 2005
• Al Fujairah (10 km in UAE) in 2005
• Traversée international du lac Memphrémagog (34 km in Canada) in 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
• Maratona del Golfo Capri-Napoli (36 km in Italy) in 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 2003, 2005
• Hong Kong (10 km in Hong Kong) in 2004
• Dubai (10 km in UAE) in 2004
• Ein El Sokhna – Red Sea (10 km in Egypt) in 2004
• Marathon de Cancún (10 km in Mexico) in 2003
• Atlantic City Around the Island (37 km in USA) in 1989, 1990, 1990, 1991, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003
• Alexandria Abou Heif (10 km in Egypt) in 2002
• Swim Across The Sound (28 km in USA) in 2002
• Tour de I’lle d’Orleans (77 km in Canada) in 2001, 2002
• Hong Kong (10 km in Hong Kong) in 2002
• Dubai (10 km in UAE) in 2002
• Sharm El Sheikh (20 km in Egypt) in 2001
• Bohinj (10 km in Slovenia) in 2001
• Tapes (26 km in Brazil) in 1996
• Hernandarias – Parana (88 km in Argentina) in 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001
• London (10 km in England) in 2000
• Terracina (25 km in Italy) in 1999, 2000
• Bled (32 km in Slovenia) in 2000
• Salvador de Bahia (25 km in Brazil) in 1999
• Mar del Plata (40 km in Argentina) in 1995, 1998
• Santa Fe – Coronda (57 km in Argentina) in 1990, 991, 1992, 1993
• Sylvan Lake (25 km in Canada) in 1992
• Riviera Marathon (55 km in Italy) in 1992
• Yseelmeer (25 km in the Netherlands) in 1987, 1991
• Aruba (48 km in Aruba) in 1991
• Salvador (18 km in Brazil) in 1991
• Shuis (16 km in Netherlands) in 1988, 1998
• Saguenay (37 km in Canada) in 1988
• English Channel in 1988 (8 hours 39 minutes)
• Bacoli (20 km in Italy) in 1987
• Ismalia (25 km in Egypt) in 1985, 1986, 1987
• Damiette (22 km in Egypt) in 1987
• Port Said (28 km in Egypt) in 1986
• Relais Malta (78 km in Malta) in 1989
• Le Nil (30 km in Egypt) in 1985
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