Franziska van Almsick
Biographical information
| Roles | Competed in Olympic Games |
|---|---|
| Sex | Female |
| Full name | Franziska•van Almsick |
| Used name | Franziska•van Almsick |
| Born | 5 April 1978 in Ost-Berlin (East Berlin), Berlin (GER) |
| Measurements | 181 cm / 66 kg |
| Affiliations | SG Neukölln, Berlin (GER) |
| NOC |  Germany |
| Medals | OG |
| Gold | 0 |
| Silver | 4 |
| Bronze | 6 |
| Total | 10 |
Biography
Franziska van Almsick was one of the greatest European female swimmers ever. Between 1992-2004 she won 10 Olympic medals as a freestyler (four silver and six bronze), although she never won a gold medal. Her medals, all for Germany, came in the 100 and 200 free, and relay events.
Van Almsick was world champion in the 100 metres free in 1994, and in total won two gold, two silver and two bronze medals at the World Championships. However, her greatest successes came at the Europeans where, in both 1993 and 1995, she won six gold medals at each meet. Her golds in 1993 were in the sprint freestyle events (50, 100, 200) and the three relays, while in 1995 she increased her distance a bit, winning over 100, 200, and 400 freestyle, and again anchoring all three German relay teams to victory. In total, she won 18 gold medals and three silver medals at Europeans.
Van Almsick’s beauty and swim prowess brought her great fame in Germany and enabled her to become quite wealthy via endorsements. In 1993, 1995, and 2002, Van Almsick was named Sportswoman of the Year in Germany, and from 1992-95 was German Swimmer of the Year. In 1993-94, and 2002, she was also elected European Female Swimmer of the Year, and in 1993 Female World Swimmer of the Year. Van Almsick received the German Media Prize Bambi in 1992 and 2002, and was elected European Sportswoman of the Year in 1993. In 1992 and 2005, she was awarded the Silver Bay Leaf, Germany’s highest sports award.
After her retirement Van Almsick worked with German TV channels ARD and RTL covering major swimming and Formula One events. From 2008, she worked with the Deutsche Sporthilfe. Van Almsick also started her own foundation to help children learn to swim.
During her sports career, Van Almsick occasionally posed as a swimming model. Her relationships with teammate Steffen Zesner, which led to a legal battle with the German yellow press, and handball player Stefan Kretzschmar were focused in Germany, as was the relationship with her later life partner, entrepreneur Jürgen B. Harder. Van Almsick raised two sons with Harder. In 2004 her autobiography “Aufgetaucht” (Coming Up) was published.
Personal Bests: 50 freestyle – 25.40 (1994); 100 freestyle – 54.39 (2002); 200 freestyle – 1:56.64 (2002); 100 butterfly – 59.15 (2002); 200 butterfly – 2:10.58 (2000).
Results
Special Notes
- Listed in Olympians Who Set a European Record in Long Course Swimming (100 m freestyle – 3 August 1993 - 28 May 2000: 54.57 (3 August 1993; Sheffield, GBR); 200 m freestyle – 6 September 1994 - 27 March 2007: 1:56.78 (6 September 1994; Roma, ITA), 1:56.64 (3 August 2002; Berlin, GER); 4×100 m freestyle relay – 29 July 2002 - 31 July 2006: 3:36.00 (29 July 2002; Berlin, GER); 4×100 m medley relay – 4 August 2002 - 24 March 2008: 4:01.54 (4 August 2002; Berlin, GER))
- Listed in Olympians Who Set a European Record in Short Course Swimming (50 m freestyle – 7 November 1992 - 14 December 1996: 24.75 (7 November 1992; Schwäbisch Gmünd, GER); 100 m freestyle – 6 January 1993 - 13 December 1996: 53.46 (6 January 1993; Shanghai, GER), 53.33 (10 January 1993; Beijing, GER); 200 m freestyle – 9 January 1993 - 13 December 1998: 1:55.84 (9 January 1993; Beijing, CHN); 4×50 m freestyle relay – 22 November 1992 - 11 December 1998: 1:40.63 (22 November 1992; Espoo, FIN); 4×50 m medley relay – 21 November 1992 - 15 December 1996 and 13 December 1998 - 12 December 1999: 1:52.13 (21 November 1992; Espoo, FIN), 1:50.13 (13 December 1998; Sheffield, GBR))
- Listed in Olympians Who Set a World Record in Long Course Swimming (200 m freestyle – 6 September 1994 - 27 March 2007: 1:56.78 (6 September 1994; Roma, ITA), 1:56.64 (3 August 2002; Berlin, GER); 4×100 m freestyle relay – 29 July 2002 - 14 August 2004: 3:36.00 (29 July 2002; Berlin, GER))
- Listed in Olympians Who Set a World Record in Short Course Swimming (50 m freestyle – 4 November 1992 - 3 December 1993: 24.75 (4 November 1992; Schwäbisch Gmünd, GER); 100 m freestyle – 6 January 1993 - 2 December 1993: 53.46 (6 January 1993; Shanghai, CHN), 53.33 (10 January 1993; Beijing, CHN); 200 m freestyle – 9 January 1993 - 1 December 1995: 1:55.84 (9 January 1993; Beijing, CHN))
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the European Aquatics Championships (18–3–0 1993 Sheffield SWM gold: 50 m freestyle, 100 m freestyle, 200 m freestyle, 4×100 m freestyle relay, 4×200 m freestyle relay, and 4×100 m medley relay, silver: 100 m butterfly; 1995 Wien SWM gold: 100 m freestyle, 400 m freestyle, 4×100 m freestyle relay, 4×200 m freestyle relay, and 4×100 m medley relay, silver: 50 m freestyle; 1999 İstanbul SWM gold: 4×100 m freestyle relay and 4×200 m freestyle relay, silver: 4×100 m medley relay; 2002 Berlin SWM gold: 100 m freestyle, 200 m freestyle, 4×100 m freestyle relay, 4×200 m freestyle relay, and 4×100 m medley relay)
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the European Swimming Championships (25 m) (4–1–0 1992 Espoo gold: 50 m freestyle, 4×50 m freestyle relay, and 4×50 m medley relay; 1998 Sheffield gold: 4×50 m medley relay, silver: 200 m freestyle)
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the World Aquatics Championships (2–2–2 1994 Roma SWI gold: 200 m freestyle, silver: 4×200 m freestyle relay, bronze: 100 m freestyle and 4×100 m freestyle relay; 1998 Perth SWI gold: 4×200 m freestyle relay, silver: 4×100 m freestyle relay)
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the World Short-Course Swimming Championships (25 m) (0–1–0 1995 Rio de Janeiro silver: 4×200 m freestyle relay)
- Listed in Olympians Who Were Elected German Athlete of the Year (1993, 1995, 2002)