Rene Mijnders

René Mijnders (1954) is the most successful Dutch rowing coach ever. He is responsible for over 40 medals won at World Championships and Olympic Games. 
During his extended career Mijnders mainly worked for the Dutch rowing federation, but he also prepared the university team of Oxford for the Boat Race against Cambridge (1997) and was the Head Coach of Swiss National Team (2005, 2006).

Mijnders studied physics and later became a physical therapist.
During his studies he got involved in rowing which soon became his biggest passion.
Mijnders participated twice at the world championships as a rower but couldn't get on the podium. He started coaching and soon got an offer from de Dutch Rowing Federation for the position of Head Coach. Mijnders didn't have to think twice and accepted the position in 1985.

Under his leadership the Dutch Team became very successful. A big highlight was the gold medal for the men's double sculls at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. But the biggest highlight in Mijnders career was when his crew won the Olympics in Atlanta 1996 in the most prestigious event in rowing, the men's eight. After that victory Mijnders was in for a new challenge and started a consulting company. Though the company was very successful his biggest passion was still the rowing.
In 1999 Mijnders returned as the Head Coach at the Dutch Rowing Federation.
He took up the women rowing and led them to great success. At three successive Olympic Games the Dutch women eight came home with a medal: Silver in Sydney 2000, bronze in Athens 2004 and silver in Beijing 2008.

At present Mijnders is technical director at the Dutch Rowing Federation.
Besides he still runs his consulting company. Although companies can be more complex than sports, there is a big similarity. It is the people who have to produce the result

His topics in presentations include motivation, striving for excellence, team performance and leadership