Heather Bergsma Explained

Heather Bergsma
Birth Name:Heather Richardson
Headercolor:lightsteelblue
Birth Date:20 March 1989
Birth Place:High Point, North Carolina, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in
Weight:149 lb
Spouse:Jorrit Bergsma
Show-Medals:no

Heather Bergsma (née Richardson; born March 20, 1989) is an American former speed skater who competed between 2006 and 2020.

Career

Bergsma is a native of North Carolina. She represented the United States at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, where she finished 6th in 500 metres, 9th in the 1000 metres, and 16th in the 1500 metres.[1] At the 2011 World Single Distance Championships in Inzell, Germany, she won a bronze medal in the 1000 metres.[2] She also placed 8th in the 500 metres,[3] and was part of the team pursuit team that finished in 8th place.[4]

On January 26–27, 2013, Bergsma won the gold medal at the 2013 World Sprint Championships in Salt Lake City, United States.[5] She has since won several world championship medals,[6] and earned numerous podium placings in the World Cup.[7] At the 2018 Winter Olympics, she won the bronze medal in the team pursuit.

Bergsma held the American record on the 500 metres distance from 2011 to 2021.[8] She is the current world record holder in the 2 x 500 meters,[9] and held the 1500 metres world record from 2015 to 2019,[10] and also briefly held the 1000 metres world record in November 2015,[11] and the sprint combination world record from 2013 to 2017.[12]

She announced her retirement from skating in February 2020.[13]

Personal life

Bergsma married Dutch speed skater and marathon skater Jorrit Bergsma in May 2015, and competed as Heather Richardson-Bergsma the following season.[14]

Speed skating

Records

World records

Results timeline

Season Olympic Games
2007–08 Did not
participate
Not held
2008–09 NC 100 m
28th 500 m
22nd 1000 m
NC 1500 m
2009–10 Did not
participate
Not held 6th 2x500 m
9th 1000 m
16th 1500 m
2010–11 Not held
2011–12 9th 500 m
1000 m
21st 1500 m
2012–13 5th 500 m
1000 m
33rd 1500 m
2013–14 Not held 8th 2x500 m
7th 1000 m
7th 1500 m
6th team pursuit
2014–15 Not held
2015–16 500 m
1000 m
1500 m
6th mass start

Note: NC = No classification.[6] [7]

Notes and References

  1. Heather Richardson . https://web.archive.org/web/20200418105730/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ri/heather-richardson-1.html . dead . April 18, 2020 . September 11, 2012.
  2. Web site: ESSENT ISU WORLD DISTANCES CHAMPIONSHIPS 2011 – Result 1000m Ladies – Rankings as of Mar 12 2011 12:48PM . March 12, 2011 . International Skating Union . July 13, 2013.
  3. Web site: ESSENT ISU WORLD DISTANCES CHAMPIONSHIPS 2011 – Result 500m Ladies – Rankings as of Mar 13 2011 1:43PM . March 13, 2011 . International Skating Union . July 13, 2013.
  4. Web site: ESSENT ISU WORLD DISTANCES CHAMPIONSHIPS 2011 – Result Team Pursuit Ladies – Rankings as of Mar 13 2011 4:20PM . March 13, 2011 . International Skating Union . July 13, 2013.
  5. Web site: Essent ISU World Sprint Championships 2013 – Classification Ladies – Rankings as of Jan 27 2013 3:58PM . January 27, 2013 . International Skating Union . July 13, 2013.
  6. Web site: Heather Richardson . www.speedskatingstats.com . September 8, 2023.
  7. Web site: Heather Richardson . www.speedskatingstats.com . September 8, 2023.
  8. Web site: National Records – United States (USA) – Women's 500m . www.speedskatingresults.com . September 8, 2023.
  9. Web site: Evolution of the world record 2x500 meters Women . www.speedskatingstats.com . January 11, 2016.
  10. Web site: Evolution of the world record 1500 meters Women . www.speedskatingstats.com . January 24, 2020.
  11. Web site: Evolution of the world record 1000 meters Women . www.speedskatingstats.com . November 22, 2015.
  12. Web site: Evolution of the world record Sprint combination Women . www.speedskatingstats.com . April 28, 2017.
  13. News: Heather Bergsma, world champion speed skater, retires . NBC Sports . February 18, 2020 . March 1, 2020.
  14. Web site: Heather Bergsma . www.speedskatingresults.com . April 28, 2017.