Marissa Stander Van der Merwe

Marissa Stander Van der Merwe[1] (born 30 August 1978 in Pretoria) is a retired South African professional road cyclist.[2] She has awarded two South African championship titles each in both road race and time trial, and later represented her nation South Africa at the 2008 Summer Olympics.[3] Marissa also raced for the nation's MTN Cycling team before her official retirement in 2011.[4]

Marissa Stander Van der Merve
Personal information
Full nameMarissa Stander Van der Merve
Born (1978-08-30) 30 August 1978
Pretoria, South Africa
Height1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Weight57 kg (126 lb)
Team information
Current teamRetired
DisciplineRoad
RoleRider
Professional teams
2008–2010MTN Cycling
2011Lotto Honda Team
Major wins
Medal record
Women's cycling
Representing  South Africa
All-Africa Games
Silver medal – second place 2007 Algiers Road race

Marissa made her official debut at the 2007 All-Africa Games in Algiers, Algeria, where she won the silver medal in the women's road race with a final time of 2:00:54, finishing behind her teammate Yolandi du Toit.

At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Marissa qualified for the South African squad in the women's road race by receiving one of the nation's two available berths from the UCI World Cup.[5][6] She successfully completed a grueling race with a thirty-fourth-place effort in 3:33:17, surpassing Great Britain's Sharon Laws and the Netherlands' Mirjam Melchers by a few inches.[7][8] On that same year, Marissa earned the women's time trial title in her first and only attempt at the South African Championships in East London.[9]

Career highlights
2006
2nd South African Championships (Road), Port Elizabeth (RSA)
2007
2nd All-Africa Games, Algiers (ALG)
2nd South African Championships (Road), South Africa
3rd South African Championships (ITT), South Africa
2008
1st South African Championships (ITT), East London (RSA)
34th Olympic Games (Road), Beijing (CHN)
2009
3rd South African Championships (ITT), Oudtshoorn (RSA)
2011
1st South African Championships (Road), Port Elizabeth (RSA)

References
  1. Marissa Stander Van der Merwe Retrieved 2019-03-15.
  2. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Marissa van der Merwe". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  3. "Van der Merwe is new SA Women's Road Champ". Cycling South Africa. 5 February 2011. Archived from the original on 8 December 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  4. Westermeyer, Susan (18 November 2007). "MTN adds pro women's road team". Cycling News. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  5. Morgan, Brad (8 August 2008). "Team SA set for Olympic assault". South Africa Info. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  6. "Marissa boosts Olympic hopes". SuperSport. 5 May 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  7. "Women's Road Race". Beijing 2008. NBC Olympics. Archived from the original on 19 August 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  8. "Cooke weathers storm to take Olympic gold". Velo News. 10 August 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  9. "Top SA cyclist primed for African champs success". Club 100 Sandton Cycling. 6 November 2008. Archived from the original on 11 October 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
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