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Heather Bergsma

United States

SportSpeed Skating
FederationIDSSUSA22003198901
NOCUnited States
Born20 Mar 1989 in  High Point, NC
GenderWomen
ResidenceAldeboarn, NED
LanguagesDutch, English
FamilyHusband Jorrit Bergsma, son Brent [2018]
Other namesHeather Richardson
Personal Bests
EventRecordDateLocation 
Personal Bests
  Event RecordDateLocation 
    500m 36.90 16 Nov 2013 Salt Lake City, UT  
    1000m 1:12.28 26 Feb 2017 Calgary  
    1500m 1:50.85 21 Nov 2015 Salt Lake City, UT  
    3000m 4:05.00 07 Mar 2015 Calgary  
    5000m 7:20.27 08 Mar 2015 Calgary  
Main Achievements
 
Main Achievements
Olympic Games
Event  
Olympic Games
    Team Pursuit 6 Laps     1  
World Single Distances Championships
Event  
World Single Distances Championships
    2 x 500m 1      
    1000m 1 2 1  
    1500m 1 1 1  
    Mass Start 16 Laps     1  
World Sprint Championships
Event  
World Sprint Championships
    Overall 1 3 1  
General Interest
General Interest
Hero / IdolUS speed skater Joey Cheek. (Athlete, 10 Dec 2013)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport?She began inline skating at age nine, and switched to speed skating in 2007.  
General Interest
General Interest
Sporting philosophy / motto"What you put in is what you get out." (Athlete, 10 Dec 2013)  
Other sportsShe has competed in roller speed skating for the United States of America, winning gold in the 500m sprint at the 2005 World Championships. (blading.at.webry.info 13 Dec 2009; usarollersports.org, 30 Jan 2009)  
Most influential person in careerUS speed skater Derek Parra. (Athlete, 10 Dec 2013)  
Other informationCAREER BREAK
In April 2018 she announced that she was taking a two-year break from speed skating to focus on other things, including starting a family with husband Jorrit Bergsma. She announced she was pregnant in May 2018. "We will see if and what will happen. I want to learn the Dutch language fluently, I want to go cycling and maybe coach young children. I will see if I have the drive to continue [speed skating]." (schaatsen.nl, 13 May 2018; 12 Apr 2018; olympics.nbcsports.com, 11 Apr 2018)

HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENT
In 2017 she became the first speed skater of either gender to win world titles in the 500m, 1000m and 1500m events. She claimed gold in the 1000m and 1500m at the 2017 World Single Distances Championships in Gangneung, Republic of Korea, to add to the 500m title she won at the 2015 World Single Distances Championships in Heerenveen, Netherlands. (teamusa.org, 12 Feb 2017; SportsDeskOnline, 11 Feb 2018)

MOVE TO THE NETHERLANDS
In 2014 she moved to Aldeboarn, Netherlands, to begin living with her husband Jorrit Bergsma. "I'm starting to feel at home in the Netherlands. At first, I missed being here [in the United States of America] all the time. That surprised me. I didn't think it would be that way. I thought I would move there, and skate, and it would feel like home. But I did miss America at first, and I think that was mostly the language," she said in 2017. (greensboro.com, 21 Apr 2017; nos.nl, 29 Oct 2014)
 
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Reason for choosing this sportShe was first introduced to skating by her parents, who were involved in the sport. She switched from inline to speed skating so she could compete at the Olympic Winter Games.  
General Interest
General Interest
InjuriesShe had knee surgery in 2011. (usatoday.com, 30 Jan 2013)

She broke her collarbone in 2010. (usatoday.com, 30 Jan 2013)
 
Famous relativesHer husband Jorrit Bergsma won a silver medal in speed skating at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. He previously won two medals [one gold, one bronze] at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. (nbcolympics.com, 10 Oct 2017; omropfryslan.nl, 08 Feb 2018; SportsDeskOnline, 15 Feb 2018; 11 Feb 2018)  
Social Media
Social Media
www.speedskatingheather.com/  
www.facebook.com/OfficialHeatherRichardson  
twitter.com/hlynnrichardson  
General Interest
General Interest
HobbiesSpending time with her husband, watching television. (greensboro.com, 21 Apr 2017)  
Superstitions / Rituals / BeliefsShe applies lip balm before stepping onto the ice. (nbcolympics.com, 10 Oct 2017)  
Championships results
Year Competition Event Rank  
Championships results
    2014/2015 World Single Distances Championships 2 x 500m1  
    2014/2015 World Allround Championships 500m1  
    2016/2017 World Single Distances Championships 1000m1  
    2016/2017 World Single Distances Championships 1500m1  
    2012/2013 World Sprint Championships Overall1  
    2014/2015 World Single Distances Championships 1000m2  
    2015/2016 World Single Distances Championships 1000m2  
    2016/2017 World Sprint Championships Overall2  
    2015/2016 World Single Distances Championships 1500m2  
    2014/2015 World Allround Championships 1500m2  
    2014/2015 World Sprint Championships Overall2  
    2015/2016 World Sprint Championships Overall2  
    2018 Olympic Games Team Pursuit 6 Laps3  
    2016/2017 World Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps3  
    2013/2014 World Sprint Championships Overall3  
    2014/2015 World Single Distances Championships 1500m3  
    2010/2011 World Single Distances Championships 1000m3  
    2011/2012 World Single Distances Championships 2 x 500m4  
    2014/2015 World Allround Championships Allround4  
    2011/2012 World Single Distances Championships 1000m4  
    2010/2011 World Sprint Championships Overall4  
    2015/2016 World Single Distances Championships 2 x 500m5  
    2014 Olympic Games Team Pursuit 6 Laps6  
    2012/2013 World Single Distances Championships 1000m6  
    2010/2011 World Single Distances Championships 2 x 500m6  
    2011/2012 World Sprint Championships Overall6  
    2010 Olympic Games 2 x 500m6  
    2014 Olympic Games 1500m7  
    2014 Olympic Games 1000m7  
    2010/2011 World Single Distances Championships Team Pursuit 6 Laps8  
    2011/2012 World Single Distances Championships Team Pursuit 6 Laps8  
    2016/2017 World Single Distances Championships 500m8  
    2012/2013 World Single Distances Championships 500m8  
    2018 Olympic Games 1500m8  
    2014 Olympic Games 2 x 500m8  
    2018 Olympic Games 1000m8  
    2010 Olympic Games 1000m9  
    2018 Olympic Games Mass Start 16 Laps11  
    2018 Olympic Games 500m11  
    2015/2016 World Single Distances Championships Mass Start 16 Laps13  
    2008/2009 World Single Distances Championships 1000m15  
    2010 Olympic Games 1500m16  
    2008/2009 World Single Distances Championships 2 x 500m16  
    2008/2009 World Sprint Championships Overall20  
    2007/2008 World Sprint Championships Overall25  
World Cups
Year Competition Event Rank  
World Cups
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification Overall1  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification Overall1  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification 1000m1  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 1500m1  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 500m1  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 1000m1  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification 1000m1  
    2010/2011 World Cup Classification 1000m1  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification Overall1  
    2016/2017 Stavanger 1000m1  
    2014/2015 Heerenveen 1000m1  
    2016/2017 Stavanger 1500m1  
    2014/2015 Heerenveen 1500m1  
    2014/2015 Erfurt 500m1  
    2014/2015 Heerenveen 500m1  
    2014/2015 Heerenveen 1000m1  
    2014/2015 Erfurt 500m1  
    2012/2013 Calgary, AB 1000m1  
    2011/2012 Heerenveen 1000m1  
    2016/2017 Harbin 1000m1  
    2015/2016 Calgary, AB 1000m1  
    2016/2017 Harbin 1500m1  
    2017/2018 Calgary, AB 1000m1  
    2013/2014 Berlin 1000m1  
    2013/2014 Calgary, AB 1000m1  
    2016/2017 Nagano 1500m1  
    2016/2017 Berlin 1000m1  
    2016/2017 Berlin 1000m1  
    2013/2014 Astana 1000m1  
    2012/2013 Nagano 1000m1  
    2012/2013 Heerenveen 1000m1  
    2013/2014 Inzell 1000m1  
    2016/2017 Nagano 1000m1  
    2015/2016 Heerenveen 1500m1  
    2014/2015 Heerenveen 500m1  
    2014/2015 Hamar 1500m1  
    2016/2017 Heerenveen 1000m1  
    2012/2013 Calgary, AB 1000m1  
    2015/2016 Salt Lake City, UT 1500m1  
    2010/2011 Obihiro 1000m1  
    2013/2014 Inzell 500m1  
    2010/2011 Obihiro 1000m1  
    2013/2014 Inzell 500m1  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification Overall2  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 1500m2  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 1000m2  
    2011/2012 World Cup Classification 1000m2  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 1500m2  
    2014/2015 Berlin 500m2  
    2014/2015 Berlin 1000m2  
    2014/2015 Berlin 1500m2  
    2012/2013 Heerenveen 500m2  
    2014/2015 Erfurt 1000m2  
    2015/2016 Heerenveen 500m2  
    2015/2016 Heerenveen 500m2  
    2015/2016 Heerenveen 1500m2  
    2011/2012 Salt Lake City, UT 1000m2  
    2010/2011 Berlin 1000m2  
    2014/2015 Erfurt 1500m2  
    2013/2014 Heerenveen 500m2  
    2015/2016 Calgary, AB 1500m2  
    2010/2011 Changchun 1000m2  
    2017/2018 Stavanger 1500m2  
    2013/2014 Salt Lake City, UT 500m2  
    2012/2013 Calgary, AB 500m2  
    2012/2013 Calgary, AB 500m2  
    2015/2016 Inzell 1500m2  
    2011/2012 Berlin 1000m2  
    2013/2014 Salt Lake City, UT 1000m2  
    2015/2016 Inzell 500m2  
    2015/2016 Heerenveen 1000m2  
    2012/2013 Heerenveen 500m2  
    2015/2016 Heerenveen 500m2  
    2016/2017 Heerenveen 1500m2  
    2015/2016 Inzell 1000m2  
    2014/2015 Berlin 500m2  
    2012/2013 Nagano 1000m2  
    2010/2011 Changchun 1000m2  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 500m3  
    2016/2017 Berlin Qualification Combination Sprint3  
    2013/2014 Salt Lake City, UT Team Pursuit 6 Laps3  
    2016/2017 Stavanger 500m3  
    2011/2012 Salt Lake City, UT 500m3  
    2011/2012 Heerenveen 500m3  
    2015/2016 Heerenveen 1000m3  
    2013/2014 Salt Lake City, UT 1500m3  
    2009/2010 Erfurt 500m3  
    2016/2017 Berlin 500m3  
    2013/2014 Salt Lake City, UT 500m3  
    2015/2016 Inzell 500m3  
    2015/2016 Salt Lake City, UT 500m3  
    2013/2014 Berlin 500m3  
    2013/2014 Heerenveen 500m3  
    2015/2016 Calgary, AB 500m3  
    2017/2018 Stavanger 1000m3  
    2015/2016 Salt Lake City, UT 1000m3  
    2010/2011 Moscow 1000m3  
    2011/2012 Heerenveen 500m3  
    2015/2016 Heerenveen 500m3  
    2012/2013 Nagano 500m3  
    2010/2011 Moscow 500m3  
    2010/2011 Moscow 500m3  
    2010/2011 World Cup Classification 500m4  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification 500m5  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 1000m5  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps6  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification 500m7  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification Overall8  
    2009/2010 World Cup Classification 500m9  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 1000m9  
    2011/2012 World Cup Classification 500m9  
    2009/2010 World Cup Classification 1000m9  
    2011/2012 World Cup Classification Overall10  
    2016/2017 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps12  
    2010/2011 World Cup Classification 1500m14  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 1500m15  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification Overall17  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification 1500m17  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps18  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification Mass Start 16 Laps18  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 500m21  
    2011/2012 World Cup Classification 1500m21  
    2008/2009 World Cup Classification 1000m22  
    2008/2009 World Cup Classification 500m28  
    2014/2015 World Cup Classification 3000/5000m30  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification 1500m33  
    2007/2008 World Cup Classification 500m53