Franziska van Almsick facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Franziska van Almsick

Personal information
Nationality	Germany
Born	(1978-04-05) 5 April 1978 (age 47) East Berlin, East Germany
Height	1.81 m
Weight	66 kg
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Freestyle
Club	SG Neukölln
Medal record Women's swimming Representing  Germany Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 0 4 6 World Championships (LC) 2 2 2 World Championships (SC) 0 1 0 European Championships (LC) 18 3 0 European Championships (SC) 4 1 0 Total 24 11 8 Olympic Games Silver 1992 Barcelona 200 m freestyle Silver 1992 Barcelona 4 × 100 m medley Silver 1996 Atlanta 200 m freestyle Silver 1996 Atlanta 4 × 200 m freestyle Bronze 1992 Barcelona 100 m freestyle Bronze 1992 Barcelona 4 × 100 m freestyle Bronze 1996 Atlanta 4 × 100 m freestyle Bronze 2000 Sydney 4 × 200 m freestyle Bronze 2004 Athens 4 × 100 m medley Bronze 2004 Athens 4 × 200 m freestyle World Championships (LC) Gold 1994 Rome 200 m freestyle Gold 1998 Perth 4 × 200 m freestyle Silver 1994 Rome 4 × 200 m freestyle Silver 1998 Perth 4 × 100 m freestyle Bronze 1994 Rome 100 m freestyle Bronze 1994 Rome 4 × 100 m freestyle World Championships (SC) Silver 1993 Rio 4 × 100 m freestyle European Championships (LC) Gold 1993 Sheffield 50 m freestyle Gold 1993 Sheffield 100 m freestyle Gold 1993 Sheffield 200 m freestyle Gold 1993 Sheffield 4 × 100 m freestyle Gold 1993 Sheffield 4 × 200 m freestyle Gold 1993 Sheffield 4 × 100 m medley Gold 1995 Vienna 100 m freestyle Gold 1995 Vienna 400 m freestyle Gold 1995 Vienna 4 × 100 m freestyle Gold 1995 Vienna 4 × 200 m freestyle Gold 1995 Vienna 4 × 100 m medley Gold 1999 Istanbul 4 × 100 m freestyle Gold 1999 Istanbul 4 × 200 m freestyle Gold 2002 Berlin 100 m freestyle Gold 2002 Berlin 200 m freestyle Gold 2002 Berlin 4 × 100 m freestyle Gold 2002 Berlin 4 × 200 m freestyle Gold 2002 Berlin 4 × 100 m medley Silver 1993 Sheffield 100 m butterfly Silver 1995 Vienna 50 m freestyle Silver 1999 Istanbul 4 × 100 m medley European Championships (SC) Gold 1992 Espoo 50 m freestyle Gold 1992 Espoo 4 × 50 m freestyle Gold 1992 Espoo 4 × 50 m medley Gold 1998 Sheffield 4 × 50 m medley Silver 1998 Sheffield 200 m freestyle

Franziska van Almsick, born on April 5, 1978, is a famous retired German swimmer. She was once the world record holder for the 200 meters freestyle swimming event. Franziska won many championships in her career, including titles at World and European competitions. She competed in both long and short course swimming events.

Franziska van Almsick's Swimming Career

Jörg Hoffmann and Franziska van Almsick (11 years old) at the Children's and Youth Spartakiad in July 1989

Franziska van Almsick started her swimming journey at the SC Dynamo Berlin in East Germany. She quickly became a top swimmer. Throughout her career, she earned an amazing 2 gold medals at the World Aquatics Championships. She also won 18 gold medals at the LEN European Aquatics Championships and 4 gold medals at the European Short Course Swimming Championships.

World Record and Olympic Success

At the 1994 World Aquatics Championships in Rome, Franziska showed her incredible talent. Her teammate, Dagmar Hase, gave up her spot in the 200 meter freestyle final. This allowed Franziska, who had the ninth-best time, to compete. Franziska then won the gold medal and even broke the world record!

Franziska won her first Olympic medals at a very young age. She was only 14 years old at the Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992. There, she won a silver medal in the 200 meter freestyle and a bronze medal in the 100 meter freestyle. She also helped the German swimming team win a silver medal in the 4x100 meter medley relay and a bronze medal in the 4x100 meter freestyle relay.

Franziska van Almsick holds a special record. She has won ten Olympic medals in her career. This is the most medals won by any swimmer without ever winning a gold medal. She finished her amazing swimming career at the Athens Olympic Games in 2004.

Awards and Recognition

In 1993, the famous Swimming World magazine named her the Female World Swimmer of the Year. This award recognized her as the best female swimmer in the world.

In 1995, the New York Times newspaper called her "the swimmer who united a nation." This was because she became a huge star after German reunification. She was seen as a symbol of unity for Germany.

Franziska van Almsick's Personal Life

Franziska van Almsick has two sons. Her first son was born in 2006, and her second son was born in 2013. She lives with her family in Heidelberg, a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

See also

• List of German records in swimming
• List of multiple Summer Olympic medalists
• List of multiple Olympic medalists at a single Games
• World record progression 50 metres freestyle
• World record progression 100 metres freestyle
• World record progression 200 metres freestyle
• Sport in Berlin