Introduction
Bas Verwijlen (born October 1, 1983 in Oss) is a fencer from the Netherlands.
He started fencing when he was five years old at fencing club Zaal Verwijlen in Oss, owned by his father Roel Verwijlen, who is also the Dutch national coach. Until he was twelve years old, he fenced in two different weapons, but he has since chosen to focus on the épée.
He became part of the Dutch national team and took part in the Universiade (17th in Beijing, 2001), Youth Olympics, Dutch national championships, but also European and World Championships. As a junior he won eleven national titles, he became third at the World Championships under-16 in the United States and represented the Netherlands at every European and World Championship since 1998. He won two World Cups for Juniors, a performance never achieved by another fencer.
It was time for his senior career and also managed to achieve World class performances there. At the 2005 World Championships in Leipzig he won the bronze medal. At the European Championships 2005 in Zalaegerszeg he and his Dutch team mates came sixth in the nations tournament. He reached the final and became second at the 2006 European Championships in Izmir. After the Grand Prix meeting in Stockholm in 2008 he was secure of qualification for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. In the preparations for this tournament he won the World Cup meeting in Cali, Colombia in June and he also won the Dutch national title. At the 2008 Summer Olympics he reached the last eight, losing to the eventual gold medalist, Matteo Tagliariol.
At the 2011 European Championships, he finished in 2nd place, a result he repeated at the 2011 World Championships.
He qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics, finishing in 13th place, despite a knee injury.
Career highlights
- 2001
World Cup (juniors)- 12th, World Nations Championship (juniors), Nîmes
- 17th, Universiade, Beijing
Dutch National Championship (seniors)
Dutch National Team Championship (seniors), with Siebren Tigchelaar, Allard van Erven and Maarten de Visser- Dutch National Championship (juniors and cadets)
- Dutch National Championship (juniors)
- Sportsman of the year in Oss
- 2002
- 12th, World Nations Championship (juniors), Lisbon
- 18th, European Championship (juniors), Moscow
- 9th, European Nations Championship (juniors), Moscow
- 17th, World Championship (juniors), Antalya
- Dutch National Team Championship (seniors), with Alexander Bloks, Allard van Erven and Siebren Tigchelaar
- Dutch National Championship (juniors)
- 2003
- World Cup (juniors)
- 9th, European Nations Championship (seniors), Bourges
- 9th, World Championship (juniors), Italy
- Dutch National Championship (seniors)
- Dutch National Team Championship (seniors), with Rick van de Goor, Allard van Erven and Siebren Tigchelaar
- Dutch National Championship (juniors)
- Dutch National Championship (foil, juniors)
- Sports team of the year in Oss
- 2004
- Dutch National Championship (seniors)
- Dutch National Team Championship (seniors), with Alexander Bloks, Rick van de Goor and Siebren Tigchelaar
- 9th, World Cup (seniors), Kuwait
- 7th, World Cup (seniors), Doha
- Willem II Tournament (seniors), Tilburg
- Dutch Open (seniors), Oss
- 2005
- Dutch Open (seniors), Oss
- Flemish Open (seniors), Ghent
- World Championship (seniors), Leipzig
- 6th, European Nations Championship (seniors), Zalaegerszeg
- Dutch National Championship (seniors)
- Dutch National Team Championship (seniors), with Alexander Bloks, Rick van de Goor and Siebren Tigchelaar
- World Cup (seniors), Tallinn
- World Cup (seniors), Vancouver
- World Cup (seniors), Tehran
- 2006
- 8th, European Championship (seniors), Izmir
- World Cup (seniors), Tehran
- Dutch National Team Championship (seniors), with Alexander Bloks, Rick van de Goor and Siebren Tigchelaar
- 6th, Grand Prix (seniors), San Juan
- 9th, World Cup (seniors), Tehran
- 9th, World Cup (seniors), Lisbon
- 9th, World Cup (seniors), Tallinn
- 10th, World Cup (seniors), Poitiers
- 2007
- Mercury Cup (seniors), New York City
- Dutch Open (seniors), Oss
- 5th, World Cup (seniors), Sydney
- Grand Prix (seniors), Paris
- Dutch National Championship (seniors)
- 6th, Grand Prix (seniors), Stockholm
- World Cup (seniors), Legnano
- World Cup (seniors), Kish Island
- 2008
- World Cup (seniors), Cali
- Dutch National Team Championship (seniors), with Alexander Bloks, Rick van de Goor and Siebren Tigchelaar
- Dutch National Championship (seniors)
- VOC-Cup (seniors), Hoorn
- Dutch National Military Championship (seniors)
- 6th, Grand Prix (seniors), Stockholm
- 5th, World Cup (seniors), Bern
- 5th, World Cup (seniors), Lisbon
- Grand Prix (seniors), Kuwait
- 9th, World Cup (seniors), Kish Island
- Bas Verwijlen Palmares 2001, basverwijlen.com
- Bas Verwijlen Palmares 2002, basverwijlen.com
- Bas Verwijlen Palmares 2003, basverwijlen.com
- Bas Verwijlen Palmares 2004, basverwijlen.com
- Bas Verwijlen Palmares 2005, basverwijlen.com
- Bas Verwijlen Palmares 2006, basverwijlen.com
- Bas Verwijlen Palmares 2007, basverwijlen.com
- Bas Verwijlen Palmares 2008, basverwijlen.com