Athlete Spotlight: Renée Gold

A life shaped by water

Renée learned to swim when she was just three and a half years old. From the beginning, the water felt natural – a place where she was calm, focused, and happy. What started as a childhood activity quickly became something deeper. Swimming wasn’t just something she did; it became part of who she was.

For many years, her passion lived in the pool. She gravitated towards longer freestyle events – races that require patience, rhythm, and mental strength. Even then, endurance and focus were part of her character.

Open water swimming came later, and not without hesitation. There were no lane lines, no controlled environment, no predictability. But one session changed everything. Once she experienced swimming beyond the pool – surrounded by nature, open space, and possibility -she knew where she belonged.

Early on, Renée remembers looking into the water, hoping to spot fish as she swam. For a long time there was nothing – just open space and anticipation. Then suddenly, right in front of her mid-swim, a fish appeared out of nowhere. It’s a small memory, but one that stayed with her. Not because it was dramatic, but because it captured everything she loves about open water: the surprise, the closeness to nature, and the feeling that every swim holds something new.

Open water offered something the pool couldn’t – freedom.
It challenged her mentally, but emotionally it gave her more in return.

A father behind the lens

Renée has never travelled this path alone.

Her father, Christian, has been part of the journey since the very beginning – first as a parent, then as a quiet observer, and eventually as the one capturing her story through photography.

Christian didn’t start out as a sports photographer. When Renée was born, he bought his first professional camera to document family life. For years, his passion lay in nature photography – birds, landscapes, and moments that required patience and attention to detail. That same patience would later become essential at pool decks and open water courses.

As Renée began competing, Christian naturally found himself photographing sport.

“I have been accompanying Renée since day one,” he says. “I see how much work goes into her sport – juggling school, training, and everything else. I try to support her in every way I can.”

Through his lens, Christian captures motion, effort, and emotion – often so immersed in the moment that he misses the odd finishing positions.

That dedication has taken him far beyond pool decks. Among his career highlights are photographing international motorsport events across Europe, the Short Course World Championships in Budapest, and a special invitation in 2024.

“Being invited by Adam Peaty to photograph his own annual event in London was a real highlight for me,” Christian says. “Moments like that are incredibly special.”

Growth through challenge

Like any athlete, Renée’s path hasn’t been smooth. The years leading up to her breakthrough included difficult races, and moments of doubt. But those experiences laid the foundation for what came next.

A key turning point arrived when she won the arena Alpen Open Water Cup 2025 as the youngest competitor in the field. After seasons of hard work and uncertainty, that moment brought clarity. It wasn’t just about winning – it was about proving to herself that perseverance mattered.

From there, confidence grew steadily. Each race became an opportunity to learn, refine, and move forward.

Behind the camera, Christian saw that shift clearly.

As a photographer, visual clarity matters – and so does the story an image tells.  Particularly the way official branding and temporary tattoos changed how young athletes carried themselves.

“Everything suddenly looks official,” he explains. “The branding reflects professionalism straight away. Top athletes wear them (temporary tattoos) at major events, and when younger athletes wear them, you can see the pride – the feeling of ‘I was there.’ They look great on camera.”

“While professional athletes will certainly remove their tattoos relatively quickly, younger athletes who get one of these tattoos at an event can be seen walking around with it days later, full of pride.”

For Christian, those details don’t just improve a photograph – they help capture the moment an athlete steps into their identity.

The World Final moment

By the time Renée reached the Oceanman World Final this December, she had already proven her place among strong competition. Still, the scale of the event and the depth of experience around her, made the challenge undeniable.

What followed surprised everyone.

Renée raced with calmness, awareness, and belief well beyond her years. When she crossed the line as second overall female and first junior, it marked a defining moment – not only for her career, but for those who had watched her grow.

For her father, the feeling was impossible to fully describe.
For Renée, it was a confirmation – not of arrival, but of direction.

Watching Renée grow as an athlete has been a journey in itself for Christian.

“What has surprised me most is that she never gives up – and her self-confidence keeps growing.”

His pride isn’t tied to results alone. It comes from seeing the commitment behind them – the discipline it takes to balance school, training, travel, and recovery, day after day.

“I am incredibly proud of her – especially of the work she puts in every single day.”

That belief, once earned, became a foundation – carried forward into each new challenge.

Looking ahead

At just 16 years old, Renée Gold is still in the earliest stages of her journey.

Looking ahead, Renée imagines a future that blends sport, travel, and discovery. She sees herself competing internationally, exploring new countries through open water swimming, and continuing to develop both as an athlete and as a person.

Her goals are bold and refreshingly honest.

“My ultimate goal is to be a world and Olympic champion,” she says, “but also to have fun.”

That balance matters. For Renée, enjoyment isn’t separate from success – it’s part of what makes excellence possible. The joy she feels in the water, the excitement of new locations, and the freedom of open water swimming are what fuel her discipline on the hardest days.

Open water is unpredictable. Development is rarely linear. But the lessons she’s already learned – discipline, resilience, and trust in the process – give her a foundation far beyond her years.

Supported by family, guided by experience, and grounded by a genuine love for the sport, Renée continues forward with quiet confidence. Not rushed. Not distracted by expectations. Simply committed to becoming the best version of herself, one swim at a time.

When asked to sum up her journey so far, Renée doesn’t hesitate.

“I would describe my journey like this,” she says. “Joy, fast, excited.”

This story isn’t about a finished athlete.
It’s about one who is becoming.

And wherever the next stretch of water leads, Renée will meet it the same way she always has – with commitment, curiosity, and the quiet confidence of someone who knows this is only the beginning.