Claudia Poll
Encyclopedia
Claudia Maria Poll Ahrens is an Olympic gold-medalist and National Record holding swimmer from Costa Rica
. To date (2009), she is Costa Rica's
only gold-medalist, having won the country first gold (and second) Olympic medal at the 1996 Olympics
in the 200 meter freestyle. Her sister, Silvia
, won Costa Rica's first Olympic medal at the 1988 Games
. Also as of 2009, Claudia and Silvia are the only Costa Ricans to have won a medal at an Olympics. Claudia also competed at the 2000 Olympics
, where she won 2 bronze medals.
Moreover, she was the first person from Central America to win a gold medal, and the only until the 2008 Olympic Games when Panama won a gold medal.
At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics she won the gold medal in the 200 m freestyle event. The win was the first gold medal for Costa Rica in the Summer Olympic Games. It was a surprising win because she beat the favorite German Franziska van Almsick
. Dagmar Hase
, also from Germany, won the bronze.
In 1997, she was named by Swimming World Magazine
as the Female Swimmer of the Year.
At the Sydney 2000
, Poll continued with her medal run and won 2 bronze medals. In Athens 2004
, she just missed out on the 400 m freestyle final, finishing 9th in the heats.
At the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games
, she set the Games Records in the 200 and 400 freestyles (2:00.19 and 4:15.01), bettering the time her sister Silvia set at the 1986 Central American and Caribbean Games
.
, Costa Rica, in 1998. Poll became a mother for the first time on August 8, 2007. Her daughter's name is Cecilia. Claudia's older sister Silvia Poll Ahrens
was also a competitor swimmer who won a silver medal in 1988, Costa Rica's first-ever Olympic medal.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
. To date (2009), she is Costa Rica's
Costa Rica at the Olympics
Costa Rica first participated at the Olympic Games in 1936, but then missed the next four Olympiads. The nation returned to the Games in 1964, and has participated in every Summer Olympic Games since then...
only gold-medalist, having won the country first gold (and second) Olympic medal at the 1996 Olympics
Costa Rica at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Costa Rica competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States. Claudia Poll won the nation's first ever gold medal.- Gold:* Claudia Poll — Swimming, Women's 200m Freestyle-Athletics :Men's Marathon...
in the 200 meter freestyle. Her sister, Silvia
Silvia Poll Ahrens
Sylvia Poll Ahrens in Managua, Nicaragua) is an Olympic and National Record holding swimmer from Costa Rica. At the 1988 Olympics, she won Costa Rica's first Olympic medal, when she garnered the silver in the women's 200 free. As of 2009, she and her younger sister Claudia are Costa Rica's only...
, won Costa Rica's first Olympic medal at the 1988 Games
Costa Rica at the 1988 Summer Olympics
Costa Rica competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea. Silvia Poll won the nation's first ever Olympic medal.- Silver:* Silvia Poll — Swimming, Women's 200 metre Freestyle-Athletics:Men's Marathon...
. Also as of 2009, Claudia and Silvia are the only Costa Ricans to have won a medal at an Olympics. Claudia also competed at the 2000 Olympics
Costa Rica at the 2000 Summer Olympics
- Bronze:* Claudia Poll — Swimming, Women's 200 m Freestyle* Claudia Poll — Swimming, Women's 400 m Freestyle-Athletics:Men's Marathon* José Luis Molina* Final — 2:20:37 -Cross Country Mountain Bike:...
, where she won 2 bronze medals.
Moreover, she was the first person from Central America to win a gold medal, and the only until the 2008 Olympic Games when Panama won a gold medal.
Career
Claudia Poll began swimming in 1979 under coach Francisco Rivas and quickly became one of the best in Central America, winning many regional titles.At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics she won the gold medal in the 200 m freestyle event. The win was the first gold medal for Costa Rica in the Summer Olympic Games. It was a surprising win because she beat the favorite German Franziska van Almsick
Franziska van Almsick
Franziska van Almsick is a German swimmer. She won her first Olympic medals in 1992 at the Barcelona Olympic Games aged fourteen....
. Dagmar Hase
Dagmar Hase
Dagmar Hase is a former German swimmer, specialised in the freestyle and backstroke. She won seven Olympic medals in her career, including a gold medal in the 400 m freestyle at the 1992 Summer Olympics.-References:*...
, also from Germany, won the bronze.
In 1997, she was named by Swimming World Magazine
Swimming World magazine
Swimming World Magazine is an American-based monthly swimming magazine, that was first published in a magazine format as Junior Swimmer in January of 1960...
as the Female Swimmer of the Year.
At the Sydney 2000
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, Poll continued with her medal run and won 2 bronze medals. In Athens 2004
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
, she just missed out on the 400 m freestyle final, finishing 9th in the heats.
At the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games
Swimming at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games
The swimming events at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games occurred July 17–22, 2006 at S.U. Pedro de Heredia Aquatic Complex in Cartagena, Colombia.-Participating countries:...
, she set the Games Records in the 200 and 400 freestyles (2:00.19 and 4:15.01), bettering the time her sister Silvia set at the 1986 Central American and Caribbean Games
1986 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 15th Central American and Caribbean Games were held in Santiago de los Caballeros in the Dominican Republic from June 24 to July 5, 1986, and included 2.963 athletes from 25 nations.-References:...
.
Honors
- declared "Honor Citizen" by the Costa Rican Congress in 1996;
- first Latin American woman to win an Olympic swimming gold medal;
- Costa Rican Sportwoman of the Year in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000;
- named Best Latin American Athlete in 1995, 1996, and 1997 by the Agencia Prensa Latina
- named 1997 World Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World MagazineSwimming World magazineSwimming World Magazine is an American-based monthly swimming magazine, that was first published in a magazine format as Junior Swimmer in January of 1960...
; and - was declared Costa Rica's Best Athlete of the Century in 1999.
Personal
Claudia graduated in Business Administration from the Universidad Internacional de las Américas, San JoséSan José, Costa Rica
San José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. Located in the Central Valley, San José is the seat of national government, the focal point of political and economic activity, and the major transportation hub of this Central American nation.Founded in 1738 by order of Cabildo de León, San...
, Costa Rica, in 1998. Poll became a mother for the first time on August 8, 2007. Her daughter's name is Cecilia. Claudia's older sister Silvia Poll Ahrens
Silvia Poll Ahrens
Sylvia Poll Ahrens in Managua, Nicaragua) is an Olympic and National Record holding swimmer from Costa Rica. At the 1988 Olympics, she won Costa Rica's first Olympic medal, when she garnered the silver in the women's 200 free. As of 2009, she and her younger sister Claudia are Costa Rica's only...
was also a competitor swimmer who won a silver medal in 1988, Costa Rica's first-ever Olympic medal.