Heather Bergsma

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

"Heather Richardson" redirects here. For the historian and writer, see Heather Cox Richardson.
Heather Bergsma
2016 WSD Speed Skating Championships
Personal information
Birth nameHeather Richardson
Born (1989-03-20) March 20, 1989
High Point, North Carolina, U.S.
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight149 lb (68 kg)
Spouse(s)Jorrit Bergsma
Sport
Country United States
SportSpeed skating
Medal record
Women's speed skating
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place2018 PyeongchangTeam pursuit
World Sprint Championships
Gold medal – first place2013 Salt Lake CitySprint
Silver medal – second place2015 AstanaSprint
Silver medal – second place2016 SeoulSprint
Silver medal – second place2017 CalgarySprint
Bronze medal – third place2014 NaganoSprint
World Single Distances Championships
Gold medal – first place2015 Heerenveen500 m
Gold medal – first place2017 Gangneung1000 m
Gold medal – first place2017 Gangneung1500 m
Silver medal – second place2015 Heerenveen1000 m
Silver medal – second place2016 Kolomna1000 m
Silver medal – second place2016 Kolomna1500 m
Bronze medal – third place2011 Inzell1000 m
Bronze medal – third place2015 Heerenveen1500 m
Bronze medal – third place2017 GangneungMass start

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

Personal records
Personal records[14]
Women's speed skating
Event Result Date Location Notes
500 m36.90November 16, 2013Utah Olympic Oval, Salt Lake CityAmerican record until beaten by Erin Jackson on December 3, 2021.[8]
2 x 500 m74.190December 28, 2013Utah Olympic Oval, Salt Lake CityCurrent world record.[9]
1000 m1:12.28February 26, 2017Olympic Oval, Calgary
1500 m1:50.85November 21, 2015Utah Olympic Oval, Salt Lake CityWorld record until beaten by Miho Takagi on March 10, 2019.[10]
3000 m4:05.00March 7, 2015Olympic Oval, Calgary
5000 m7:20.27March 8, 2015Olympic Oval, Calgary

World records
World records[15]
Women's speed skating
Event Result Date Location Notes
2 x 500 m74.190December 28, 2013Utah Olympic Oval, Salt Lake CityCurrent world record.[9]
1000 m1:12.51November 14, 2015Olympic Oval, CalgaryWorld record until beaten by Brittany Bowe on November 22, 2015.[11]
1500 m1:50.85November 21, 2015Utah Olympic Oval, Salt Lake CityWorld record until beaten by Miho Takagi on March 10, 2019.[10]
Sprint comb.147.735January 19–20, 2013Olympic Oval, CalgaryWorld record until beaten by Nao Kodaira on February 25–26, 2017.[12]

Results timeline
SeasonWorld SprintWorld SDWorld CupOlympic Games
2007–0825thDid not
participate		53rd 500 m
NC 1000 m		Not held
2008–0920th16th 2x500 m
15th 1000 m		NC 100 m
28th 500 m
22nd 1000 m
NC 1500 m
2009–10Did not
participate		Not held9th 500 m
9th 1000 m		6th 2x500 m
9th 1000 m
16th 1500 m
2010–114th6th 2x500 m
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 1000 m
8th team pursuit		4th 500 m
1st place, gold medalist(s) 1000 m
14th 1500 m		Not held
2011–126th4th 2x500 m
4th 1000 m
8th team pursuit		9th 500 m
2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1000 m
21st 1500 m
2012–131st place, gold medalist(s)8th 2x500 m
6th 1000 m		5th 500 m
1st place, gold medalist(s) 1000 m
33rd 1500 m
2013–143rd place, bronze medalist(s)Not held2nd place, silver medalist(s) 500 m
1st place, gold medalist(s) 1000 m
17th 1500 m
1st GWC		8th 2x500 m
7th 1000 m
7th 1500 m
6th team pursuit
2014–152nd place, silver medalist(s)1st place, gold medalist(s) 2x500 m
2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1000 m
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 1500 m		3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 500 m
5th 1000 m
2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1500 m
30th 3k/5k
18th mass start
1st GWC		Not held
2015–162nd place, silver medalist(s)5th 2x500 m
2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1000 m
2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1500 m
13th mass start		3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 500 m
2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1000 m
2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1500 m
6th mass start
Note: NC = No classification.

[6][7]

References
  1. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Heather Richardson". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2012.
  2. "ESSENT ISU WORLD DISTANCES CHAMPIONSHIPS 2011 – Result 1000m Ladies – Rankings as of Mar 12 2011 12:48PM". International Skating Union. March 12, 2011. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
  3. "ESSENT ISU WORLD DISTANCES CHAMPIONSHIPS 2011 – Result 500m Ladies – Rankings as of Mar 13 2011 1:43PM". International Skating Union. March 13, 2011. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
  4. "ESSENT ISU WORLD DISTANCES CHAMPIONSHIPS 2011 – Result Team Pursuit Ladies – Rankings as of Mar 13 2011 4:20PM". International Skating Union. March 13, 2011. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
  5. "Essent ISU World Sprint Championships 2013 – Classification Ladies – Rankings as of Jan 27 2013 3:58PM". International Skating Union. January 27, 2013. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
  6. "Heather Richardson". www.speedskatingstats.com. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  7. "Heather Richardson". www.speedskatingstats.com. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  8. "National Records – United States (USA) – Women's 500m". www.speedskatingresults.com. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  9. "Evolution of the world record 2x500 meters Women". www.speedskatingstats.com. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  10. "Evolution of the world record 1500 meters Women". www.speedskatingstats.com. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  11. "Evolution of the world record 1000 meters Women". www.speedskatingstats.com. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  12. "Evolution of the world record Sprint combination Women". www.speedskatingstats.com. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  13. "Heather Bergsma, world champion speed skater, retires". NBC Sports. 18 February 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  14. "Heather Bergsma". www.speedskatingresults.com. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  15. "Heather Richardson". www.speedskatingstats.com. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
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