Lenie de Nijs
 Lenie de Nijs (right) and Atie Voorbij in 1961 | ||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
1939 (age 77–78) Hilversum, the Netherlands | |||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||
| Sport | Swimming | |||||||||
| Strokes | Freestyle, backstroke | |||||||||
| Club | HZC de Robben, Hilversum | |||||||||
| Coach | Jan Stender | |||||||||
Medal record
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Lenie de Nijs (born 1939) is a retired Dutch swimmer. In July-August 1955 she broke three freestyle world records over 1500 m, 880 yd and 1760 yd distances. She then changed to backstroke, winning three national titles over 100 m (1956–1958) and setting world records in the 200 m backstroke (1957) and 4×100 m medley relay events (1956 and 1958); she set her last record while winning the European title in Budapest, together with Ada den Haan, Cocky Gastelaars and Atie Voorbij. She qualified for the 1956 Summer Olympics, but could not participate due to the boycott of those games by the Netherlands.[1]
As a child, de Nijs was diagnosed with chronic asthma and bronchitis and the doctor advised her to join a sport club to improve health.[2] After retiring from swimming she married the Dutch water polo player Harry Vriend on 4 October 1963.[3] Her younger sister Judith[4] was also a world-level swimmer who married a water polo player.[5]
See also
References
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lenie de Nijs. |
- ↑ Lenie de Nijs. zwemmenindepolder.nl
- ↑ Lenie de Nijs: Zwemkapioen ondanks astma. verteldeverhalen.ntr.nl
- ↑ Zwemster Lenie de Nijs huwt met Harry Vriend. gahetna.nl
- ↑ Sportjournaal. Niewsblad van het Noorden (1958-02-17).
- ↑ Judith de Nijs. zwemmenindepolder.nl
| Records | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ragnhild Hveger |
Women's 1500 metres freestyle world record holder (long course) 23 July 1955 – 21 August 1956 |
Succeeded by Jans Koster |
| Preceded by Philippa Gould |
Women's 200 metres backstroke world record holder (long course) 17 May 1957 – 1 August 1958 |
Succeeded by Chris von Saltza |