Hendrika Wilhelmina "Rie" Mastenbroek (February 26, 1919 - November 6, 2003) was a Dutch swimmer and a triple Olympic champion. Jump to: navigation, search February 26 is the 57th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1919 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 55 days remaining. ... Jump to: navigation, search 2003(MMIII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Swimming is the method by which living creatures move themselves through water in a method not involving simply walking on the bottom. ... Jump to: navigation, search The Olympic Games, or Olympics, is an international multi-sport event taking place every two years and alternating between Summer and Winter Games. ...

Born in Rotterdam, she started swimming under the coaching of "Ma" Braun, who had coached her daughter to an Olympic gold medal in 1928. In 1934, Mastenbroek won three gold medals and a silver at the European Championships. For other places named Rotterdam, see Rotterdam (disambiguation) Rotterdam is the second largest city in the Netherlands (after Amsterdam), located in the province of Zuid Holland. ...

She repeated that performance at the 1936 Summer Olympics, aged only 17, winning the 100 m freestyle, 400 m freestyle and the 4 x 100 m freestyle. In the 100 m backstroke, she finished second behind teammate Nida Senff. (Senff missed a turning point and had to swim back before completing the last 50 m. She nevertheless beat Mastenbroek thanks to an outstanding last leg.) The Games of the XI Olympiad were held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. ... Freestyle is one of the official swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. However, it is technically not a style, as there are very few regulations about the way freestyle has to be swum. ... Backstroke swimming (amateur competition, non-optimal style) Backstroke is one of the three swimming styles regulated by FINA, and the only regulated style swum on the back. ...

The following year she became a swimming instructor, thereby losing her amateur status and becoming ineligible for competition.

During her career she broke nine world records (six for backstroke; three for freestyle). In 1968 she was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. The International Swimming Hall of Fame, located on the Atlantic Ocean beachfront in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, is a Hall of Fame dedicated to promoting the sport of swimming and immortalising the achievements and contributions of those who have distinguished themselves in the following four branches of aquatic sports: competitive...

She passed away at age 84 in Rotterdam.

External links

• Article on Rie Mastenbroek from the Journal of Olympic History