Swimming Icon Franziska van Almsick Receives Germany’s Highest Civilian Honor
Legendary swimmer Franziska van Almsick, a 10-time Olympic medalist, has been awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
Van Almsick, now 46, impressed the world with her talent during her swimming career, achieving four silver medals and six bronze medals at the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Olympic Games. Her success story transcended athletic achievements; the New York Times even dubbed her “the swimmer who united a nation,” proclaiming her as “the first big star of German reunification” following the reunification of East and West Germany.
Moreover, van Almsick has made waves in the pool throughout history as the first FINA-recognized World Record holder in women’s 50-meter freestyle in short course meters, clocking in at 24.75 at a 1992 German meet. Her talent continued to shine as she established the first official World Records in the 100-meter freestyle in short course meters (53.46 and 53.33 in the heats and finals of the 1993 World Cup meet in Shanghai) and went on to hold the initial World record for the women’s 200-meter freestyle in short course meters (1:55.84, also from that same World Cup).
Van Almsick’s dominance wasn’t limited to short course. In long course competition, she shattered the 200-meter freestyle World Record twice, remarkably with an eight-year gap between the records. In 1994 at the World Championships, though initially placing ninth in the 200-meter freestyle qualifying heats, she took home the gold and a shiny new World Record of 1:56.78. Her teammate, Dagmar Hase had initially qualified but had to scratch from the final, paving the way for van Almsick to compete and etch her name in the record books. This new time broke a longstanding previous World Record by eight-tenths of a second.
Then, in 2002 at the European Championships, van Almsick again smashed her own World Record, swimming a time of 1:56.64. Van Almsick held this record for an astounding 12-and-a-half years until Italian powerhouse Federica Pellegrini surpassed it at the 2007 World Championships.
Turning her passion into action after retiring from competitive swimming in 2004, van Almsick turned her attention to ensuring that more children could enjoy the joy and safety of swimming. She launched the “Heidelberg Kids in Swimming Lessons” program, a testament to her dedication to making swimming accessible.
Today, approximately 20,000 primary school students in 45 German cities benefit from the program. Alongside her program, she established the Franziska van Almsick Foundation, which covers costs like entry fees, travel, and essential equipment, enabling each child to master at least one type of swimming by the end of primary school.
An advocate for athletes beyond the pool deck, van Almsick also holds the position of deputy chairwoman on the supervisory board for the German Sports Aid Foundation. Since 2010, this phenomenal organization has been pivotal in assisting elite athletes in smoothly transitioning into the business world. This invaluable program acknowledges that many top athletes miss crucial career milestones like internships due to their rigorous training and competition schedules.
Van Almsick received the Order of Merit at Bellevue Palace in Berlin on Volunteer Day, December 5th, alongside 16 other esteemed individuals who have made exceptional contributions to popular sport.
Echoing the spirit behind the award, the German Swimming Federation remarked, “They lived sport as a unifying element and promoted equal opportunities and self-confidence, as stated in the justification. They are committed to participation and integration, and stand for the inclusion of people with disabilities and gender equality in sport.”
What advice does Franziska van Almsick give to young athletes aspiring to achieve greatness?
## Interview with Swimming Legend Franziska van Almsick
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**Host:** Welcome back to “Sports Spotlight” everyone! Today, we have the incredible Franziska van Almsick joining us. Franziska, ten-time Olympic medalist and swimming legend, recently received Germany’s highest civilian honor, the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. Congratulations on this tremendous achievement!
**Franziska van Almsick:** Thank you so much. It’s truly an honor to receive this recognition.
**Host:** Your career is truly remarkable. Four silver and six bronze Olympic medals, countless world records broken – you truly are an icon of German sport. Can you share with us what it meant to represent Germany, especially in the years after reunification?
**Franziska:** It was a privilege and a responsibility. [1] After reunification, there was a strong sense of unity and hope in Germany. To be a part of that, even in a small way through swimming, was deeply meaningful.
The New York Times actually called me “the swimmer who united a nation.”
**Host:** That’s incredible! And your accomplishments in the pool speak for themselves.
**Franziska:**
Thank you. From the 50-meter freestyle to the 200-meter freestyle, both in short and long courses, it was always about pushing the boundaries and exceeding my own expectations.
And of course, setting those records, especially breaking my own 200-meter freestyle record twice with an eight-year gap, showed me the power of dedication and perseverance.
**Host:** Truly inspiring. What advice would you give to young athletes aspiring to achieve greatness?
**Franziska:** Believe in yourself, work hard, never give up, and always remember to enjoy the journey.
**Host:**
Beautiful words. Franziska van Almsick, thank you so much for joining us. Congratulations again on your well-deserved honor!
**Franziska:** Thank you for having me.
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