Ellen Meliesie, who won the women's lightweight double sculls world title with Laurien Vermulst in Milan in 1988, died on 10 October aged 63, with her family at her side. The Dutch federation announced her death on 12 October. NLroei reported that Meliesie had lived with breast cancer and its effects for several years.
Meliesie came to rowing relatively late, having previously been a swimmer. In its obituary, her club recalled how quickly her talent became apparent, and how her drive and determination helped her become one of the Netherlands' best lightweight women.
The Milan gold was the high point of a long run at the front of international lightweight sculling. Meliesie made her international debut alongside Karin Hommers at the 1986 World Rowing Championships in Nottingham, Great Britain. The duo shared silver with the British crew of Gillian Bond and Carol Ann Wood, who rowed level with the Dutch on the very last stroke. Seven years later, with Cindy Rip, Meliesie won world bronze in Racice, Czech Republic. Those three medals spanned eight seasons, including the 1988 title alongside Vermulst. She ended her international racing career at World Rowing Cup III on the Rotsee in Lucerne, Switzerland.
The club remembered her achievements as a contribution to Dutch rowing history that also put the Zwolsche on the international map. In 1996 she and Vermulst raced in Atlanta, where the LW2x joined the Olympic programme for the first time. The Dutch pair reached that first Olympic final and finished sixth.
A life beyond racing
After her elite racing career, Meliesie spent many years working as a physiotherapist and teacher. She worked with Landstede Hammers and taught at Landstede Sport & Bewegen, where she helped train young sports professionals. She also kept treating rowers, and she worked abroad as a physiotherapist, including with the Canadian rowing team. She had previously raced in Canada herself, competing in the lightweight single sculls at the 1992 World Championships in Montreal.
Her home club was the Zwolsche Roei- en Zeilvereeniging. Despite her international success, she remained closely connected to it throughout her sporting and personal life. After retiring from elite competition, she continued to guide rowers and share her knowledge and experience.
She held several posts there, including a three-year term as chair. The club credited her with an important contribution to its development during the period when its current clubhouse and boathouse were built. For her service, she was named a member of merit.
The obituary also remembered her commitment, expertise and willingness to help others, describing her as a source of inspiration within and beyond sport. As she herself once said about the Zwolsche: “Everyone is treated with respect here. You feel at home.”
For the club, those words captured both her affection for the association and the way many people remembered her.
"With her passing, the Dutch sporting world loses a respected former elite athlete, administrator, teacher and healthcare professional,” the KNRB notice stated. “Her influence reached far beyond her impressive sporting achievements alone."
In its tribute, the club remembered not just an exceptional sportswoman but a warm, caring person whose contribution to the association and to sport in Zwolle was immense.
The funeral will be held in private. Condolences can be offered at the Zwolsche Roei- en Zeilvereeniging on Friday 16 October from 14:00.
