Petronella "Nel" van Vliet (17 January 1926 – 4 January 2006) was a breaststroke swimmer from the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

. She won gold medals in the 200 m breaststroke at the 1947 European Aquatics Championships and

1948 Summer Olympics The 1948 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XIV Olympiad and also known as London 1948) were an international multi-sport event held from 29 July to 14 August 1948 in London, England, United Kingdom. Following a twelve-year hiatus ca ...

. In 1973, she was inducted to the

International Swimming Hall of Fame The International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum (ISHOF) is a history museum and hall of fame, located at One Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, operated by private interests and serving as the central point for the s ...

Biography

Nel van Vliet was born in Hilversum and learned to swim only around the age of 16 (c. 1942), during World War II. In 1943, she became national champion in the 200 m breaststroke, her favorite discipline. She improved significantly after the end of the war, setting 13 world records in various breaststroke and medley relay events in 1946–1947, and winning national championships in 1946 and 1948. Her international career was hindered by that she was not registered with the Dutch authorities at birth. After this problem was rectified, she became European (1947) and Olympic (1948) champion in the 200 m breaststroke event. To win the 1948 Olympics, it was sufficient for her to swim eight seconds slower than her personal best time, that is, the world record. Van Vliet was the first top swimmer raised by the famous Dutch coach Jan Stender. After retiring from swimming she devoted her time to raising her three children. Her marriage lasted only five years, and to earn for the family she had to quit competitive swimming and start working as a swimming coach. Her Olympic gold medal was stolen from her home in 1948 and was reissued to her only in 2004. She died two years later from a cancer-related illness in

Naarden Naarden () is a city and former municipality in the Gooi region in the province of North Holland, Netherlands. It has been part of the new municipality of Gooise Meren since 2016. History Naarden was granted its city rights in 1300 (the only t ...

Gallery

Nel van Vliet and Jan Stender 1947.jpg, Van Vliet and Stender at the 1947 European Championships Nel van Vliet and Hannie Termeulen 1947.jpg, Van Vliet and Hannie Termeulen with a Monaco soldier at the 1947 European Championships Nel van Vliet with kids 1952.jpg, Nel van Vliet with her children in 1952 Nel van Vliet coaching in 1957.jpg, Van Vliet coaching in 1957

References

1926 births 2006 deaths Dutch female breaststroke swimmers World record setters in swimming Olympic gold medalists for the Netherlands Olympic swimmers for the Netherlands Swimmers at the 1948 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 1948 Summer Olympics European Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming Sportspeople from Hilversum Olympic gold medalists in swimming {{Netherlands-swimming-bio-stub

Biography

Gallery

See also

References