Geertje Wielema

Geertje Wielema
Wielema in 1955
Personal information
Born24 July 1934
Hilversum, Netherlands
Died18 August 2009 (aged 75)
Almere, Netherlands
Sport
SportSwimming
ClubDe Robben, Hilversum
Medal record
Representing  Netherlands
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1952 Helsinki 100 m backstroke
European Championships[1]
Gold medal – first place 1954 Turin 100 m backstroke
Silver medal – second place 1954 Turin 4×100 m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 1954 Turin 100 m freestyle

Geertje Wielema (24 July 1934 – 18 August 2009) was a freestyle and backstroke swimmer from the Netherlands, who won the silver medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics in the 100 m backstroke. In 1954 she won three medals at European championships and was named Holland's first female Sportspersonality of the Year. She missed the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne due to their boycott by the Netherlands, but continued swimming until late 1950s and later served as a swimming judge.[2] Between 1950 and 1954 she set five world records in medley relay and individual backstroke events.[3]

References

  1. ^ EUROPEAN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS (WOMEN). gbrathletics.com
  2. ^ Geertje Wielema Archived 18 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine. sports-reference.com
  3. ^ Geertje Wielema Archived 30 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine. zwemmenindepolder.nl
Awards
Preceded by Dutch Sportspersonality of the Year
1954
Succeeded by