Heather Frederiksen
Encyclopedia
Heather Frederiksen is a British
swimmer
. She competed at the 2008 Paralympics
where she won four medals.
It was in 2006, whilst watching television coverage of the swimming events at the Commonwealth Games
, in Melbourne
, that Frederiksen decided she wanted to swim again. After her Paralympic success she said of the experience, "I saw Joanne Jackson
win the gold in the 400 m and I just said to myself, 'I’m not ready to finish. I’ll finish when I want to finish, not when someone else tells me to’"—she had previously competed against Jackson.
Frederiksen now competes in the S8 (backstroke
and freestyle
), SB7 (breaststroke
) and SM8 (medley
) classifications. Her first senior swim meet came at the 2007 German Open, in Berlin
.
In her first appearance at the British Championships in 2008 Frederiksen won two gold and two silver medals from her six events and set a number of national records. At the 2008 Summer Paralympics
, in Beijing
, she competed in five events and won four medals. Her first medal, a silver in the women's 100 m freestyle - S8 final on 8 September, was followed two days later by gold in the women's 100 m backstroke - S8 in a new IPC world record time of one minute 16.74 seconds. A bronze medal was won by Frederiksen in the 200 m individual medley and her final medal of the games came with a silver in the 400 m freestyle. In her final event, the 50 m freestyle, she reached the final but finished in 7th position. In all three races where Frederikson won silver or bronze medals it was American Jessica Long
who won the gold medal.
In addition to her 100 m backstroke world record Frederiksen is the current holder of the 50m freestyle world record, the 100m freestyle world record, the 200m freestyle world record and the 400m freestyle world record, European records in the 50m, 100m, 200m, 400 m freestyle, 100 m butterfly, 100m backstroke S8 classifications, and holds the British record in a total of six different events.
Outside the pool, Heather is a qualified driving instructor.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
swimmer
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
. She competed at the 2008 Paralympics
2008 Summer Paralympics
The 2008 Summer Paralympic Games, the thirteenth Paralympics, took place in Beijing, China from September 6 to September 17, 2008. As with the 2008 Summer Olympics, equestrian events were held in Hong Kong and sailing events in Qingdao....
where she won four medals.
Injury
At the end of 2004 Frederiksen suffered a serious accident that left her with limited use of her right arm and leg, and the need to use a wheelchair. Her doctors told her she would never swim again, and when she tried she found herself swimming in circles.It was in 2006, whilst watching television coverage of the swimming events at the Commonwealth Games
2006 Commonwealth Games
The 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of teams competing, athletes competing, and events being held.The site...
, in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, that Frederiksen decided she wanted to swim again. After her Paralympic success she said of the experience, "I saw Joanne Jackson
Joanne Jackson (swimmer)
Joanne Amy Jackson is a British freestyle swimmer. She is the sister of retired Olympic swimmer Nicola Jackson. She went to Richmond School, North Yorkshire....
win the gold in the 400 m and I just said to myself, 'I’m not ready to finish. I’ll finish when I want to finish, not when someone else tells me to’"—she had previously competed against Jackson.
Career
In 2004, prior to her accident, Frederiksen won both the British 10 km Open Water Championship and 4.5 km British Grand Prix on the same day.Frederiksen now competes in the S8 (backstroke
Backstroke
The backstroke, also sometimes called the back crawl, is one of the four swimming styles regulated by FINA, and the only regulated style swum on the back. This has the advantage of easy breathing, but the disadvantage of swimmers not being able to see where they are going. It is also the only...
and freestyle
Freestyle swimming
Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...
), SB7 (breaststroke
Breaststroke
The breaststroke is a swimming style in which the swimmer is on his or her chest and the torso does not rotate. It is the most popular recreational style due to its stability and the ability to keep the head out of the water a large portion of the time. In most swimming classes, beginners learn...
) and SM8 (medley
Medley swimming
Medley is a combination of four different swimming styles into one race. This race is either swum by one swimmer as individual medley or by four swimmers as a medley relay...
) classifications. Her first senior swim meet came at the 2007 German Open, in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
In her first appearance at the British Championships in 2008 Frederiksen won two gold and two silver medals from her six events and set a number of national records. At the 2008 Summer Paralympics
2008 Summer Paralympics
The 2008 Summer Paralympic Games, the thirteenth Paralympics, took place in Beijing, China from September 6 to September 17, 2008. As with the 2008 Summer Olympics, equestrian events were held in Hong Kong and sailing events in Qingdao....
, in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, she competed in five events and won four medals. Her first medal, a silver in the women's 100 m freestyle - S8 final on 8 September, was followed two days later by gold in the women's 100 m backstroke - S8 in a new IPC world record time of one minute 16.74 seconds. A bronze medal was won by Frederiksen in the 200 m individual medley and her final medal of the games came with a silver in the 400 m freestyle. In her final event, the 50 m freestyle, she reached the final but finished in 7th position. In all three races where Frederikson won silver or bronze medals it was American Jessica Long
Jessica Long
-Early life:Long was born in Siberia and was adopted from a Russian orphanage at the age of 13 months. Because of lower leg anomalies , her legs were amputated when she was 18 months old. She learned to walk with prostheses. Long has been involved in many sports including gymnastics, cheerleading,...
who won the gold medal.
In addition to her 100 m backstroke world record Frederiksen is the current holder of the 50m freestyle world record, the 100m freestyle world record, the 200m freestyle world record and the 400m freestyle world record, European records in the 50m, 100m, 200m, 400 m freestyle, 100 m butterfly, 100m backstroke S8 classifications, and holds the British record in a total of six different events.
Outside the pool, Heather is a qualified driving instructor.
See also
- List of IPC world records in swimming
- List of Paralympic records in swimming
- Great Britain at the 2008 Summer ParalympicsGreat Britain at the 2008 Summer ParalympicsGreat Britain competed at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, People's Republic of China. Great Britain sent a delegation of around 400, of which 212 were athletes, to compete in eighteen sports at the Games...
- Swimming at the 2008 Summer ParalympicsSwimming at the 2008 Summer ParalympicsThe swimming events of the 2008 Summer Paralympics were held in the Beijing National Aquatics Center between September 7 and September 15, 2008. A total of 140 gold medals were expected to be distributed.-Classifications:...