Date of birth: 7 Jan 1981

Age on Race day: 25

Born in: Haren, Netherlands

Home town: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Nationality: Dutch

Club: OUBC

College: Christ Church

Course: MSc Management Research

Previous Uni: Universiteit Van Amsterdam, Netherlands

School: Maartens College, Netherlands

Height: 6’0

Weight: 80kg

Coach: Sean Bowden

Personal bio:

Michiel began rowing with his friends back in Holland and comes from a very sporting family. Both his parents rowed in the Olympic Games for the Netherlands his father was also a Dutch Olympic coach. Michiel attended University in Amsterdam and continued to row there where he won the Head Race in 2004 and the Heineken Race in 2005. He joined Oxford after competing at Henley earlier in the year for his Amsterdam Club. He was also friends with Dutch rower Gerritagan Eggenkemp, who was part of the Oxford Blue Boat in 2002. As well as rowing Michel is musically talented, he is part of a band back in Holland where he plays drums, sings and writes songs.