Heather Frederiksen's page

HEATHER FREDERIKSEN

PARALYMPIAN SWIMMER

 

 

Heather Frederiksen is already a legend at the tender age 22. The nation watched as this courageous young lady swam the women's 100m backstroke at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing claiming Paralympic Gold. Despite being told by Doctors four years previously that she would never swim again.  At 18 Heather was one of the shining lights in able-bodied swimming until an horrific accident, which is still too raw to discuss, put paid to her dreams.

 

One year on from the accident Heather dipped her toes in the water once more. "I'd been a professional swimmer, suddenly all I could do was splash around in circles. I laugh now at how daft I must've looked but back then I cried with frustration. I still had a hunger to succeed and the tears and tantrums were worth every second when I won my medal", said Heather.

 

Since her victory this inspirational champion has been visiting primary schools to educate children on the stigma of disabilities. "If I can inspire people not to take anything for granted, I'll have done my job".

 

Despite her many other claims to fame Heather was voted Cosmopolitan Magazine's  Ultimate Against All Odds Star for 2008.

 

Heather's Lastest News

 

 

March 2009 - British Gas Swimming Championships Sheffield Forum

 

Heather Frederiksen (Salford, S8)  has lowered the world records in her classification on a day of excellent swimming at the British Gas Swimming Championships 2009.

 

Frederiksen lowered the S8 world record in her heat for the women's 400m Freestyle with a time of 4:45.67 and went into the final hungry for more success. She touched home in a time of 4:47.08 to take the silver medal with a point score of 1004. She has also taken 1.5 seconds off the 100m Backstroke World Record.

 

"The world record was my aim coming into this event," Frederiksen said. "It was Jess Long's world record so I am happy to have broken it. My training has been going well although it has been a bit on and off since Beijing. My Granddad died at the beginning of the year and that was for him."

 

The times she has done this week would have won her three golds in Beijing compared to the one she won!

 

 

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT HEATHER:

Date of Birth: 30/12/85

Height: 5ft 10in

Marital Status: Single

Nicknames: H or Freddy

Place of Birth: Billinge

Residence: Lowton, Lancashire

School: Lowton High School

Swimming Club: City of Salford

 

HEATHER'S FAVOURITES:

Food: Spaghetti Bolognese

Restaurant: Andiamos

Film: Pretty Woman

TV Programmes: Coronation Street, Eastenders, Hollyoaks

Clothes Shop: Jane Norman

Perfume: Burberry Weekend

 

 

HEATHER'S SWIMMING ACHIEVEMENTS SINCE 2005 - when she returned to swimming after being out of the water for over 12 months with a disability.

 

British Records

 

Long Course
50m Freestyle 50m Backstroke
100m Freestyle 100m Backstroke
200m Freestyle 200m Individual Medley
400m Freestyle 100m Butterfly

 

Short Course
50m Freestyle 100m Backstroke                            
100m Freestyle 200m Backstroke
400m Freestyle 200m Individual Medley
4x100m Freestyle Team

400m Individual Medley

4x100m Medley Team 100m Breastroke

 

European Records

 

Long Course
100m Freestyle 100m Backstroke
200m Freestyle 100m Butterfly
400m Freestyle 200m Individual Medley

 

Short Course
100m Freestyle 200m Individual Medley
200m Freestyle 100m Backstroke                           
400m Freestyle
4x100m Freestyle Team
4x100m Medley Team

 

World Records

 

Long Course
50m Freestyle
100m Backstroke
200m Freestyle
400m Freestyle
4x100m Medley Team

 

Short Course
100m Freestyle 200m Individual Medley              
200m Freestyle 100m Backstroke
400m Freestyle
4x100m Freestyle Team
4x100m Medley Team

 

Paralympic Games, Beijing 2008

 

100m Backstroke - Gold, World Record, Paralympic Record, Paralympic Champion

100m Freestyle - Silver

400m Freestyle - Silver
200m Individual Medley - Bronze
50m Freestyle - 7th

 

European Championships, Reykjavik, October 2009 

 

50m Freestyle - Gold and World Record

100m Freestyle - Gold

400m Freestyle - Gold
4x100m Individual Medley - Team Gold and World Record
100m Butterfly - Gold
200m Individual Medley - Silver
100m Backstroke - Bronze

Cosmopolitan Ultimate Against All Odds Star 2008

 

 

 

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