Renzo Tjon-A-Joe

Renzo Tjon-A-Joe is a Surinamese swimmer who mainly swims in 50 m and 100 m freestyle events. He competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics and is the fastest swimmer in Surinamese history.

Renzo Tjon-A-Joe
Renzo Tjon A Joe At Swim Cup Eindhoven
Personal information
Full nameRenzo Jair Tjon-A-Joe
Nickname(s)Roos
National teamSuriname
Born (1995-07-08) July 8, 1995
Height1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight83 kg (183 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesButterfly, Freestyle
ClubAuburn University Alabama, USA

Biography

Suriname-born Renzo Tjon-A-Joe is his country's fastest swimmer to date. He made his first appearance on the world stage at the age of 18, as a member of the Surinamese selection for the 2013 Junior Worlds in Dubai, UAE. In Dubai, he was a finalist in the 50 m freestyle. He went on to be the most successful athlete from Suriname in 2013 and 2015 and was named 2013 and 2015 Male Athlete of the Year. In his country, he currently holds all national sprint records for the 50 m and 100 m freestyle in the long course and short course. Renzo previously trained at Auburn University in preparation for the 2016 Summer Olympics under the world-renowned sprint coach Brett Hawke. He now studies Economics at Harvard University. In 2018 Tjon A Joe completed a regional sprint trifecta- winning gold in the 50m Freestyle at the ODESUR South American Games, Central American and Caribbean Games and CCCAN Championships.

Personal bests
  • Mexico, Veracruz, 2014 Central American& Caribbean Games, 50 m butterfly bronze medal,
  • 50 m freestyle silver medal, 100 m freestyle 4th place, all national records
  • Chile, 2014 Junior South American Championships, 50 m freestyle finalist, silver medal
  • Dubai, 2013 Junior World Championship, 50 m freestyle finalist
  • Dubai, 2013 Junior World Championship, 100 m freestyle, semi-finalist
  • Jamaica, 2013, 50 m freestyle finalist, gold medal/new meet record
  • Chile, 2013, South American Junior Championships 50 m freestyle finalist, silver medal
  • USA, 2015 Arena Pro Swim Series Mesa, Arizona 50 m freestyle finalist with 22.53
  • Cochabamba, 2018 South American Gold Medalist, 50 m freestyle[1]

Achievements
  • First Surinamer to swim under 50 seconds in 100 m freestyle ( SC-2014) and under 23 seconds in 50 m freestyle (LC-2013)
  • Male Swimmer of the Year Suriname 2013
  • Male Athlete of the Year Suriname 2013
  • He broke a national record in 50 m freestyle at the 2013 Junior Worlds in Dubai (22.75)
  • A-finalist in the 50 m freestyle at the Arena Grand Prix, Orlando, Florida (02/14)
  • A-finalist in the 50 m freestyle at the Arena Grand Prix, Meza, Arizona (06/14)
  • Sep. 1, 2014 – training with the Auburn Pro Team at Auburn University.
  • MBTA Man of the Year 2005
  • Auburn University Swimming and Diving Coach: Brett Hawke
  • Male Swimmer of the Year Suriname 2014
  • Nominated in top 3 athletes of Suriname for Athlete of the Year 2014 Award
  • Male Athlete of the Year Suriname 2015

National records
Long Course (50-meter pool)
Event Time Meet Location Date
100 m Freestyle 49.29 Swim Cup Eindhoven, Netherlands April 7, 2016
50 m Freestyle 22.23 Summer Olympics Rio de Janeiro, Brazil August 11, 2016
50 m Butterfly 24.40 CAC Games Veracruz, Mexico November 17, 2014
4 x 50 m

Freestyle relay[a]

 1.35.30 CARIFTA Championships Bridgetown, Barbados April 7, 2015

a with Juan Limburg, Irvin Hoost, and Zuhayr Pigot

Short Course (25-meter pool)
Event Time Venue Date
50m freestyle 21.90 Qatar December, 2012
100m freestyle 49.90 Suriname June, 2014
50m butterfly 24.48 Qatar December, 2014

International competitions

2014 Arena Grand Prix Series USA
  • 02/2014: Orlando, Florida: 50 freestyle: A-Finalist, 8th : 22.98
  • 02/2014: Orlando, FL: 100 freestyle: C-Finalist, 24th: 52.79
  • 04/2014: Mesa, AZ: 50 freestyle: A-Finalist, 7th place 22.91
  • 04/2014: Mesa, AZ: 100 freestyle: B-Finalist, 14th place 51.27

2015 Arena Grand Prix Series USA
  • 02/2015: Orlando, FL: 50 freestyle: B-Final, 2nd: 23.07 (10th overall)
  • 02/2015: Orlando, FL: 100 freestyle: C-Final, 1st: 50.91 (8th overall)

Speedo Championship Series, USA
  • 03/15: Plantation, FL: 50 freestyle: A-Final, 2nd: 23.14
  • 03/15: Plantation, FL: 100 freestyle: A-Final, 3rd : 50.44

Personal life

He is currently pursuing a degree in economics at Harvard University. Tjon-A-Joe has an older brother named Maikel and a younger sister named Arantxa. He speaks Dutch, English, Sranan Tongo and Spanish. He has said his favourite film is Pim De La Parra's, Wan Pipel.

References
  1. "Renzo Tjon A Joe wint eerste medaille voor Suriname op 11e ODESUR spelen" (in Dutch). Waterkant. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
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