Conny VAN BENTUM

Conny van Bentum was one of the best freestyle and butterfly swimmers of the 1980s. Her career started in 1979, when she won her first national title at age 13. She proceeded to reach the Olympic final of the 100 m freestyle and win a bronze medal with the Dutch relay squad. She went on to collect two more Olympic relay medals, as well as five World Championship medals (all bronze) and 12 European Championship medals (three silver, nine bronze). Her only international titles came at the 1985 Universiade, where she won the 100 and 200 m freestyle. After winning six medals at the 1983 European Championships, she was elected female athlete of the year in the Netherlands. After completing her medical studies, Van Bentum briefly worked as a staff doctor for the Dutch women's hockey team, before working as a GP in Amersfoort.