Merlin Belmon

Merlin’s swimming journey has taken him across various top-tier training facilities in the Netherlands. He began competing at a young age, achieving his first individual national age-group record at 14. At 17, he set two additional Dutch youth records. Merlin has been a multiple-time Open Dutch Champion and a frequent age-group champion, solidifying his reputation as a top competitor. His training path has included stints at the Dutch Federation’s regional center in Amsterdam (2019/2020), the U18 national team (2020-2022), and his current training with the Swim Academy Eindhoven, where he trains with the national team.

Athletic Highlights

• Multiple-time Dutch Open Champion
• Numerous Dutch age-group championships
• Set first individual national age-group record at age 14
• Dutch youth record-holder at age 17 (2 records)
• National U18 team member (2020-2022)
• High Performance Centre/Swim Academy Eindhoven team member (2022-present)

Strengths

Merlin’s dedication to improving every aspect of his performance sets him apart. Known for his discipline and focus, he pays great attention to technical details, constantly refining his form and efficiency. He excels at turns and underwaters, often gaining on his competitors during longer short-course events, a strength that complements his powerful short-distance speed. His unique blend of mid-distance and sprint capabilities allows him to perform competitively across multiple events. Merlin's height is 194 cm and weighs 77 kg.

Academic Background and Goals

Merlin will be completing his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science at the Eindhoven University of Technology in the summer of 2025. He is studying Computer Science, with an additional dual track in Mathematics. He will not be completing his Mathematics degree before his planned move to the U.S. He aims to further his studies in the US with a Master’s degree in a related field, integrating his academic and athletic ambitions.