10-time German Olympic medalist and former World Record holder Franziska van Almsick has been awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. The honor is the highest and only federal decoration in Germany
Van Almsick won four silver medals and six bronze medals at the 1992. 1996, and 2000 Olympic Games, and in 1995 the New York Times described her as “the swimmer who united a nation” as “the first big star of German reunification” after East Germany and West Germany reunited.
Van Almsick was the first FINA-recognized World Record holder in the 50 free in short course meters for women, swimming 24.75 at a German meet in November 1992. She also was responsible for the first two official World Records in the 100 free in short course meters (53.46 and 53.33 in heats and finals of the 1993 World Cup meet in Shanghai) and the first World Record in the 200 free in short course meters (1:55.84, also from that 1993 World Cup meet in Shanghai).
In long course, Van Almsick broke the World Record in the 200 free twice consecutively – albeit 8 years apart. At the 1994 World Championships, she was only 9th in the qualifying of the 200 free, but her teammate Dagmar Hase scratched the final, which moved Van Almsick in. Van Almsick would go on to win gold and set the World Record in 1:56.78 in the final, knocking eight-tenths off the previous mark (which itself stood for eight years).
Then in 2002 at the European Championships, Van Almsick swam 1:56.64 to break her own World Record again. In total, she held that mark for 12-and-a-half years until Federica Pellegrini surpassed her at the 2007 World Championships.
Van Almsick, now 46, retired in 2004 and turned her attention to ensuring that more children can learn to swim. She launched the “Heidelberg Kids in Swimming Lessons” program. Today, around 20,000 primary school children in 45 German cities benefit from those program. Further, the Franziska van Almsick Foundation covers the costs of entry fees, travel, equipment, and instruction, allowing each child to master at least one type of swimming by the end of primary school.
Van Almsick is also involved in the German Sports Aid Foundation and has been deputy chairwoman of the supervisory board since 2010. That organization helps elite athletes transition into the business world after missing crucial milestones like internships because of their training and competition schedules.
Van Almsick received the award at Bellevue Palace in Berlin on the occasion of Volunteer Day (December 5th) together with 16 other people who are all outstandingly committed to popular sport.
According to the German Swimming Federation: “They lived sport as a unifying element and promoted equal opportunities and self-confidence, it was stated in the justification. They are committed to participation and integration, to the inclusion of people with disabilities and to gender equality in sport.”
Van Almsick’s Olympic Medals
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1992 Barcelona | 200 m freestyle |
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1992 Barcelona | 4 × 100 m medley |
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1996 Atlanta | 200 m freestyle |
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1996 Atlanta | 4 × 200 m freestyle |
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1992 Barcelona | 100 m freestyle |
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1992 Barcelona | 4 × 100 m freestyle |
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1996 Atlanta | 4 × 100 m freestyle |
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2000 Sydney | 4 × 200 m freestyle |
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2004 Athens | 4 × 100 m medley |
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2004 Athens | 4 × 200 m freestyle |
A great star very early in her life, whose imbroglio in Spain with Nicole Haislett is one of the most memorable Olympic gold races. They flipped in unison at 150 and came home as though tethered, a yoked team. Franzi … !! Is all we can say…
Her elegant and smooth stroke is always a joy to watch.
When I lived in Germany, this woman was a huge star! Her face was everywhere, most notably for Milka candy.
I still remember the world record/world title from lane 8 after scratching into the final. Incredible stuff. Long live Franzi!🙌🏼
Fifth paragraph, presumably supposed to be “2002” not “2022”
A great honor for a person who deserves it. Well done Franny!
ALMSICK may not have ever won a gold medal at the Olympics, but her presence on the scene of a united Germany was an absolutely golden moment in that nation’s recovery from the dark years of the 60’s and 70’s when female doping from the DDR (East Germany) was so bad! Shirley Babashoff, and so many other great athletes, suffered during that period. ALMSICK really showed what “clean” sport can be in a unified Germany! Brava!
Agreed, the 60s and 70s were awful for the doping, but it continued through the 1988 games in Seoul with Otto and her teammates. Van Almsick was the first noteworthy female swimmer from the unified Germany.