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Tilly van der Zwaard facts for kids

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Tilly van der Zwaard 1964.jpg
Tilly van der Zwaard in 1964
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Personal information
Birth name Mathilda Catrina van der Zwaard
Born (1938-01-18)18 January 1938
Leiden, Netherlands
Died 6 February 2019(2019-02-06) (aged 81)
Edgewater, Florida, U.S.
Height 1.68 m
Weight 55 kg
Sport
Sport Middle distance running
Club Sagitta, Amsterdam
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing  Netherlands
European Championships
Bronze 1962 Belgrade 400 metres

Tilly van der Zwaard (born January 18, 1938, died February 6, 2019) was a fantastic runner from the Netherlands. She was known for her speed in middle distance races. Tilly won a bronze medal at a big competition called the European Athletics Championships in 1962.

About Tilly van der Zwaard

Tilly van der Zwaard was a talented athlete who specialized in running. She competed in races like the 400 metres, which is a sprint around one lap of a standard track. Her skills made her one of the top runners in her country.

European Championships Success

In 1962, Tilly competed in the European Athletics Championships held in Belgrade. This was a very important event where athletes from all over Europe came to compete. Tilly ran incredibly well in the 400-metre race. She won a bronze medal, finishing third. The runners who placed ahead of her were Maria Itkina from the Soviet Union and Joy Grieveson from Great Britain.

Olympic Games Appearances

Tilly van der Zwaard also had the amazing opportunity to represent the Netherlands at the Summer Olympics. She competed in the 400-metre event twice. Her first Olympic appearance was in 1964, and she also went to the Olympics in 1968.

Her best result at the Olympics was in 1964. She finished in sixth place in the 400-metre race. This was a great achievement, showing she was one of the best runners in the world.

Tilly van der Zwaard with family 1966
Tilly van der Zwaard with her husband and daughter Eveline in July 1966

Personal Life and Later Years

Tilly van der Zwaard was born Mathilda Catrina van der Zwaard in Leiden, a city in the Netherlands. In November 1964, she got married to Ger van der Made. After her marriage, she used the name van der Made-van der Zwaard.

Later, she and Ger van der Made divorced. After that, she went back to using her original last name, van der Zwaard. After she stopped competing in athletics, Tilly moved to the United States. She lived in Edgewater, Florida, where she passed away in February 2019.

Tilly van der Zwaard 1 in 2010
Tilly van der Zwaard in her garden in Edgewater, Florida, December 2010

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Tilly van der Zwaard para niños

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