Vinus vanBaalen

Vinus was a great human being, champion swimmer and quite a character. I believe his home was in Canada and that he swam for San Diego Masters. Vinus was know to drive great distances to compete in many US championships and the Long Beach SCY Holiday Invite. I was quite surprised when he showed up at my home pool (at New Mexico State). When I asked him where he was staying, He replied "Hotel Walmart"! Finally, Vinus was a member of the Dutch Olympic Swimming team. I'll miss his dry sense of humor and his fierce competitive spirit! Vinus vanBaalen, Olympian 1964, has passed away at age 70. I met him at the Huntsman Games 2 years ago and found this seemingly quiet man to be quite a gem. I know he'd competed as recently as May, and was registered but unable to attend LCM Nat's in Omaha. His good friend, Pete Anderson, was keeping me up to date. www.usms.org/.../02C3V 50m free 23.90 winner Paul Wilkins - YouTube www.sports-reference.com/.../vinus-van-baalen-1.html

Vinus was a great human being, champion swimmer and quite a character. I believe his home was in Canada and that he swam for San Diego Masters. Vinus was know to drive great distances to compete in many US championships and the Long Beach SCY Holiday Invite. I was quite surprised when he showed up at my home pool (at New Mexico State). When I asked him where he was staying, He replied "Hotel Walmart"! Finally, Vinus was a member of the Dutch Olympic Swimming team. I'll miss his dry sense of humor and his fierce competitive spirit! Vinus vanBaalen, Olympian 1964, has passed away at age 70. I met him at the Huntsman Games 2 years ago and found this seemingly quiet man to be quite a gem. I know he'd competed as recently as May, and was registered but unable to attend LCM Nat's in Omaha. His good friend, Pete Anderson, was keeping me up to date. www.usms.org/.../02C3V 50m free 23.90 winner Paul Wilkins - YouTube www.sports-reference.com/.../vinus-van-baalen-1.html