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
Paralympic Games, Beijing 2008
100m Backstroke - Gold Medal, World Record, Paralympic Record, Paralympic Champion
100m Freestyle - Silver Medal
400m Freestyle - Silver Medal
200m Individual Medley - Bronze Medal
50m Freestyle - 7th
World Records - Long Course
100m Backstroke
World Records - Short Course
100m, 400m Freestyle
4 x 100m Freestyle Team, 4 x 100 Medley Team
100m Backstroke, 200m Individual Medley
British Records - Long Course
50m, 100m, 200m, 400m Freestyle
100m Backstroke, 200m Individual Medley, 100m Butterfly
British Records - Short Course
50m, 100m, 400m Freestyle
4 x 100m Freestyle Team, 4 x 100 Medley Team
100m Backstroke, 200m Individual Medley, 100m Butterfly
European Records - Long Course
100m, 400m Freestyle
200m Individual Medley, 100m Backstroke, 100m Butterfly
European Records - Short Course
100m, 400m Freestyle
4 x 100m Freestyle Team, 4 x 100 Medley Team
100m Backstroke, 200m Individual Medley