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Femke HEEMSKERK
Sport Swimming
NOC Netherlands   
GenderWomen
Born21 Sep 1987 in Roelofarendsveen, NED
Height1.80 m
 Human Interest 
General Interest
Other information
RETIREMENT
She retired from competitive swimming in December 2021. "I'm very happy that I've learned so much during my swimming career, swam so much faster than I've ever imagined, won more medals than I've ever wished for and I'm so grateful I got to work with the best of the best and raced my idols till the new generation and upcoming stars." (swimmingworldmagazine.com, 05 Dec 2021; Instagram profile, 05 Oct 2021)

RUSH WEDDING
She married Guido Frackers in March 2020 in Vancouver, BC, Canada, a few months ahead of their planned wedding. The wedding was brought forward due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the fact she would not be allowed over the US border as Frackers' fiancee. "A global crisis almost ensured that we couldn't be together. We got married on a Tuesday in Vancouver in a coffee shop. We got married six months earlier than planned. I was wearing a jogging suit and sweater, as I only had training clothes with me. Our witnesses were two people waiting for their coffee." (swimswam.com, 05 Apr 2020)

RETIREMENT THOUGHTS
She considered retiring from competitive swimming after the 2018 European Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, but the four silver medals she won at the event encouraged her to carry on with a view to competing at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. "I hear jokes, granny this and granny that. But that is not an issue for me. It is just how you feel yourself. I do not feel 31." (volkskrant.nl, 07 Dec 2018; nu.nl, 02 Oct 2018)

SWITCHING COACHES
In 2015 she moved to France to train with coach Philippe Lucas, a move she admitted was a gamble so close to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. After not qualifying for the final of the 100m freestyle or 200m freestyle in Rio de Janeiro, she split with coach Lucas in August 2016. In January 2017 she announced that she would work with Marcel Wouda again, having been coached by him earlier in her career. "At that point I believed moving to France was the right choice. I wanted to be trained by someone who could guarantee 100% the preconditions for my preparation for the [2016] Olympic Games. I was convinced coach Lucas was the best choice. In France we trained intensively and in a 'Spartan' way. The training sessions were too hard for my body and I was exhausted at the start of the Games. I used the period after the Olympic Games in Rio to think where and with whom I want to continue my career. I have learned a lot from it, such as taking the signals from my body seriously, communicating more clearly and standing on my line. I am very excited about my cooperation with coach Wouda and we are confident we will get the most out of it." (sannevanpaassen.nl, 22 Mar 2021; nos.nl, 23 Jan 2017, 22 Aug 2016, 09 Aug 2016; pedalamagazine.nl, 18 Nov 2016; ad.nl, 22 Aug 2016)

DOCUMENTARY
She was one of the Dutch swimmers to feature in the documentary 0.03 Seconds, about their preparations for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and their performances at the event. (metronieuws.nl, 12 Apr 2017)

FURTHER STUDIES
In 2019 she began studying for a master's degree in coaching at the Johan Cruyff Institute. (LinkedIn profile, 01 Jan 2019)
Hero / Idol
Dutch swimmer Marleen Veldhuis, Swiss tennis player Roger Federer. (Athlete, 10 Jul 2015; excellesports.com, 20 Jun 2016)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"It always seems impossible, until it's done." (Athlete, 10 Jul 2015)
Further Personal Information
Residence
Eindhoven, NED
General Interest
Injuries
In April 2018 she was due to compete at the Swim Cup in Eindhoven, Netherlands, but she withdrew as a result of stomach issues. (Facebook profile, 10 Apr 2018)

She was affected by shoulder, groin and knee injuries ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (evajinek.kro-ncrv.nl, 27 Jun 2017)

In 2014 she sustained an injury to her left shoulder during the KNZB Challenger in Dordrecht, Netherlands, and missed the 2014 European Championships in Berlin, Germany, as a result. (volkskrant.nl, 31 Jul 2015)
Further Personal Information
Family
Husband Guido
General Interest
Milestones
She was a member of the Dutch women's 4x100m freestyle relay team that won gold at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, the first Dutch gold medal in the event since 1936. (olympischsporterfgoed.nl, 01 Oct 2012; SportsDeskOnline, 11 Dec 2018)
Most influential person in career
Her father. (nos.nl, 07 Jan 2021)
Hobbies
Dining, reading, music, dancing, spending time with family and friends. (Facebook page, 04 Jun 2019)
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport?
She was inspired by the results of Pieter van den Hoogenband and Inge de Bruijn at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. In the same year she met coach Sjaak Juffermans, who saw she was a talented swimmer. "I saw Inge de Bruijn swimming in slow-motion on TV. I thought it was so beautiful that I thought, 'I want that too!' I really liked being in the water, even before I started swimming. I love the sensation of the water and the feeling that you can pull yourself forward."
General Interest
Awards and honours
She was named Best Sportswoman of Amsterdam in 2008 and 2009, and became a Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion in 2009. (femkeheemskerk.nl, 02 Dec 2010)

She was part of the 4x100m freestyle relay team that was named the 2009 Dutch Sports Team of the Year. (femkeheemskerk.nl, 01 Jan 2015; olympischsporterfgoed.nl, 01 Jan 2015)
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport?
She began swimming at age nine at the Z&PC Alkemade club in the Netherlands.
International Debut
Year
2005
Competing for
Netherlands
Tournament
World Championships
Location
Montreal, QC, CAN
Further Personal Information
Languages
Dutch, English, French
General Interest
Nicknames
Femmie, Fem (Athlete, 11 Mar 2007)
Further Personal Information
Higher education
Sport Management - Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences: Netherlands

 Competition Highlights
Olympic Games
Rank Year Venue Event Result
6 2021 Tokyo, JPN 100m Freestyle 52.79
18 2021 Tokyo, JPN 50m Freestyle 24.77
10 2021 Tokyo, JPN 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:59.89
4 2021 Tokyo, JPN 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:33.70
6 2021 Tokyo, JPN 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:41.25
Heats 2016 Rio de Janeiro, BRA 100m Freestyle 54.63
Semifinal 2016 Rio de Janeiro, BRA 200m Freestyle 1:57.82
4 2016 Rio de Janeiro, BRA 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:33.81
  2012 London, ENG 200m Freestyle DNS
Semifinal 2012 London, ENG 100m Freestyle 54.13
2 2012 London, ENG 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:33.79
6 2012 London, ENG 4 x 100m Medley Relay  
Heats 2008 Beijing, CHN 200m Individual Medley 2:16.28
Heats 2008 Beijing, CHN 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay  
Heats 2008 Beijing, CHN 4 x 100m Medley Relay  
1 2008 Beijing, CHN 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:33.76
World Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
6 2019 Gwangju, KOR 100m Freestyle 53.05
Semifinal 2019 Gwangju, KOR 50m Freestyle 24.77
4 2019 Gwangju, KOR 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:35.32
Heats 2019 Gwangju, KOR 4 x 100m Medley Relay  
6 2019 Gwangju, KOR 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:23.48
8 2019 Gwangju, KOR 4 x 100m Medley Relay  DSQ
Semifinal 2017 Budapest, HUN 200m Freestyle 1:56.50
7 2017 Budapest, HUN 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:54.29
3 2017 Budapest, HUN 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:32.64
2 2017 Budapest, HUN 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:21.81
8 2015 Kazan, RUS 200m Freestyle 1:56.79
5 2015 Kazan, RUS 100m Freestyle 53.58
Heats 2015 Kazan, RUS 50m Freestyle  DNS
2 2015 Kazan, RUS 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:33.67
2 2015 Kazan, RUS 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:23.10
Heats 2015 Kazan, RUS 4 x 100m Medley Relay  
Semifinal 2013 Barcelona, ESP 200m Freestyle 1:56.98
5 2013 Barcelona, ESP 100m Freestyle 53.67
Semifinal 2013 Barcelona, ESP 50m Freestyle 25.10
3 2013 Barcelona, ESP 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:35.77
7 2011 Shanghai, CHN 200m Freestyle 1:57.63
4 2011 Shanghai, CHN 100m Freestyle 53.72
1 2011 Shanghai, CHN 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:33.96
Heat 2011 Shanghai, CHN 4 x 100m Medley Relay  
5 2009 Rome, ITA 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:57.31
Heat 2009 Rome, ITA 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay  
Semifinal 2009 Rome, ITA 200m Freestyle 1:56.86
1 2009 Rome, ITA 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:31.72
8 2007 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 8:04.81
3 2007 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:36.81
4 2005 Montreal, CAN 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay  
Heat 2005 Montreal, CAN 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 8:10.79
World Championships Short Course
Rank Year Venue Event Result
3 2018 Hangzhou, CHN 200m Freestyle 1:52.36
2 2018 Hangzhou, CHN 100m Freestyle 51.60
2 2018 Hangzhou, CHN 50m Freestyle 23.67
2 2018 Hangzhou, CHN 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 1:34.55
2 2018 Hangzhou, CHN 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 1:28.51
2 2018 Hangzhou, CHN 4 x 50m Medley Relay 1:37.05
2 2018 Hangzhou, CHN 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:28.02
3 2018 Hangzhou, CHN 4 x 50m Medley Relay 1:44.57
3 2014 Doha, QAT 200m Freestyle 1:51.69
1 2014 Doha, QAT 100m Freestyle 51.37
1 2014 Doha, QAT 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:26.53
1 2014 Doha, QAT 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 1:34.24
1 2014 Doha, QAT 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:32.85
Heats 2010 Dubai, UAE 200m Freestyle 1:55.46
2 2010 Dubai, UAE 100m Freestyle 52.18
1 2010 Dubai, UAE 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:28.54
5 2008 Manchester, ENG 100m Individual Medley 1:00.64
2 2008 Manchester, ENG 200m Freestyle 1:54.65
1 2008 Manchester, ENG 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:38.90
1 2008 Manchester, ENG 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:29.42
European Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
2 2021 Budapest, HUN 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:22.26
5 2021 Budapest, HUN 50m Freestyle 24.32
1 2021 Budapest, HUN 100m Freestyle 53.05
2 2021 Budapest, HUN 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:34.29
5 2021 Budapest, HUN 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:57.41
2 2021 Budapest, HUN 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:41.28
2 2018 Glasgow, SCO 200m Freestyle 1:56.72
2 2018 Glasgow, SCO 100m Freestyle 53.23
6 2018 Glasgow, SCO 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:32.39
2 2018 Glasgow, SCO 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:34.77
5 2018 Glasgow, SCO 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:58.94
2 2018 Glasgow, SCO 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:23.97
3 2016 London, ENG 100m Freestyle 53.72
2 2016 London, ENG 200m Freestyle 1:55.97
1 2016 London, ENG 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:33.80
3 2016 London, ENG 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:53.63
3 2014 Berlin, GER 200m Freestyle 1:56.81
Heats 2014 Berlin, GER 50m Freestyle  DNS
2 2014 Berlin, GER 100m Freestyle 53.64
4 2014 Berlin, GER 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:58.33
2 2014 Berlin, GER 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:36.26
2 2014 Berlin, GER 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:45.93
7 2010 Budapest, HUN 200m Freestyle 1:58.46
3 2010 Budapest, HUN 100m Freestyle 54.12
6 2010 Budapest, HUN 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:39.47
Semifinal 2008 Eindhoven, NED 200m Individual Medley 2:15.96
Semifinal 2008 Eindhoven, NED 200m Freestyle 1:59.82
1 2008 Eindhoven, NED 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:33.62 
4 2008 Eindhoven, NED 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:56.14
3 2008 Eindhoven, NED 4 x 100m Medley Relay  
Heats 2006 Budapest, HUN 200m Freestyle 2:03.06
Heats 2006 Budapest, HUN 100m Freestyle 56.40
2 2006 Budapest, HUN 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay  
Heats 2006 Budapest, HUN 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay  
European Championships Short Course
Rank Year Venue Event Result
3 2019 Glasgow, SCO 200m Freestyle 1:53.35
5 2019 Glasgow, SCO 50m Freestyle 23.84
3 2019 Glasgow, SCO 100m Freestyle 51.88
2 2019 Glasgow, SCO 4 x 50m Medley Relay 1:37.12
1 2019 Glasgow, SCO 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 1:35.21
5 2017 Copenhagen, DEN 100m Freestyle 51.93
2 2017 Copenhagen, DEN 200m Freestyle 1:53.41
4 2017 Copenhagen, DEN 50m Freestyle 23.82
4 2017 Copenhagen, DEN 4 x 50m Medley Relay 1:45.39
1 2017 Copenhagen, DEN 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 1:33.91
1 2017 Copenhagen, DEN 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 1:28.39
4 2015 Netanya, ISR 100m Freestyle 52.53
3 2015 Netanya, ISR 200m Freestyle 1:52.81
4 2015 Netanya, ISR 400m Freestyle 4:00.99
2 2015 Netanya, ISR 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 1:36.20
8 2013 Herning, DEN 100m Freestyle 52.77
4 2013 Herning, DEN 200m Freestyle 1:54.30
1 2010 Eindhoven, NED 200m Freestyle 1:52.62
2 2010 Eindhoven, NED 100m Freestyle 52.02
1 2010 Eindhoven, NED 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 1:34.34
1 2010 Eindhoven, NED 4 x 50m Medley Relay  
21 2009 Istanbul, TUR 100m Freestyle 52.68
3 2009 Istanbul, TUR 200m Freestyle 1:54.20
5 2008 Rijeka, CRO 100m Individual Medley 1:00.09
2 2008 Rijeka, CRO 200m Freestyle 1:53.79
10 2007 Debrecen, HUN 200m Freestyle 1:57.10
6 2007 Debrecen, HUN 100m Freestyle 53.67
17 2006 Helsinki, FIN 200m Freestyle 1:59.38
14 2005 Trieste, ITA 100m Individual Medley 1:03.76
13 2005 Trieste, ITA 200m Freestyle 1:59.47
World Cup
Rank Year Venue Event Result
5 2018   Overall Ranking  
1 2018 Beijing, CHN 200m Freestyle 1:52.22
3 2018 Beijing, CHN 100m Freestyle 51.92
2 2018 Beijing, CHN 400m Freestyle 4:02.24
3 2018 Beijing, CHN 50m Freestyle 23.91
3 2018 Budapest, HUN 400m Freestyle 4:00.03
3 2018 Budapest, HUN 50m Freestyle 23.67
2 2018 Budapest, HUN 200m Freestyle 1:52.04
3 2018 Budapest, HUN 100m Freestyle 51.74
1 2018 Budapest, HUN 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 1:30.01
1 2018 Budapest, HUN 4 x 50m Medley Relay 1:38.68
2 2018 Doha, QAT 400m Freestyle 4:12.56
3 2018 Doha, QAT 100m Freestyle 53.34
2 2018 Doha, QAT 200m Freestyle 1:56.92
2 2018 Doha, QAT 50m Freestyle 24.54
1 2018 Doha, QAT 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:30.81
1 2018 Doha, QAT 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:49.18
5 2018 Eindhoven, NED 100m Individual Medley 58.69
3 2018 Eindhoven, NED 50m Freestyle 23.77
2 2018 Eindhoven, NED 200m Freestyle 1:52.98
3 2018 Eindhoven, NED 100m Freestyle 51.73
1 2018 Eindhoven, NED 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 1:29.90
2 2018 Kazan, RUS 100m Freestyle 53.63
3 2018 Kazan, RUS 50m Freestyle 24.64
2 2018 Kazan, RUS 200m Freestyle 1:56.89
1 2018 Kazan, RUS 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:27.42
1 2018 Kazan, RUS 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:46.10
4 2018 Singapore, SGP 400m Freestyle 4:09.44
4 2018 Singapore, SGP 50m Freestyle 23.69
1 2018 Singapore, SGP 200m Freestyle 1:52.57
1 2018 Singapore, SGP 800m Freestyle 8:33.00
2 2018 Singapore, SGP 100m Freestyle 51.29
1 2018 Tokyo, JPN 400m Freestyle 4:01.29
3 2018 Tokyo, JPN 50m Freestyle 23.69
1 2018 Tokyo, JPN 200m Freestyle 1:51.91
2 2018 Tokyo, JPN 100m Freestyle 51.38
9 2017   Overall  
3 2017 Berlin, GER 200m Freestyle 1:52.23
4 2017 Berlin, GER 50m Freestyle 23.93
1 2017 Berlin, GER 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 1:28.70
2 2017 Doha, QAT 200m Freestyle 1:53.11
3 2017 Doha, QAT 200m Individual Medley 2:08.33
3 2017 Doha, QAT 50m Freestyle 24.40
3 2017 Doha, QAT 100m Freestyle 52.29
4 2017 Doha, QAT 400m Freestyle 4:09.07
4 2017 Doha, QAT 400m Individual Medley 4:40.24
3 2017 Eindhoven, NED 200m Freestyle 1:52.24
4 2017 Eindhoven, NED 100m Freestyle 52.08
1 2017 Eindhoven, NED 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 1:28.90
2 2017 Hong Kong, CHN 200m Freestyle 1:53.14
3 2017 Hong Kong, CHN 200m Individual Medley 2:09.79
3 2017 Hong Kong, CHN 50m Freestyle 24.56
6 2017 Hong Kong, CHN 100m Individual Medley 1:01.19
3 2017 Hong Kong, CHN 100m Freestyle 53.02
1 2017 Hong Kong, CHN 400m Freestyle 4:04.30
1 2017 Hong Kong, CHN 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 1:32.11
4 2017 Moscow, RUS 50m Freestyle 24.14
5 2017 Moscow, RUS 100m Individual Medley 59.57
4 2017 Moscow, RUS 100m Freestyle 51.98
4 2017 Moscow, RUS 200m Individual Medley 2:09.80
18 2013   Overall  
1 2013 Berlin, GER 200m Freestyle 1:52.25
7 2013 Berlin, GER 50m Freestyle 24.33
2 2013 Berlin, GER 100m Freestyle 52.20
1 2013 Berlin, GER 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 1:30.33
2 2013 Doha, QAT 100m Freestyle 52.71
7 2013 Doha, QAT 100m Individual Medley 1:00.36
2 2013 Doha, QAT 200m Freestyle 1:53.65
2 2013 Dubai, UAE 100m Freestyle 52.79
2 2013 Dubai, UAE 200m Freestyle 1:53.46
4 2013 Eindhoven, NED 200m Freestyle 1:53.16
5 2013 Eindhoven, NED 50m Freestyle 24.26
4 2013 Eindhoven, NED 100m Freestyle 52.18
2 2013 Eindhoven, NED 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 1:30.46
9 2010   Overall  
1 2010 Berlin, GER 200m Freestyle 1:52.42 NR
1 2010 Berlin, GER 100m Freestyle 51.96
1 2010 Berlin, GER 100m Backstroke 57.72