Lieke Klaver

Lieke Klaver (Dutch: [ˈlikə ˈklaːvər]; born 20 August 1998) is a Dutch track and field athlete who competes in sprinting. She specializes in the 200 metres and in the 400 metres. In the 4 × 400 metres relay, she is the 2023 world champion with the Dutch women's team.

Lieke Klaver
Klaver at the 2023 European Indoor Championships in Istanbul
Personal information
Born (1998-08-20) 20 August 1998
Velsen-Zuid, Netherlands
Height1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Sport
SportTrack and field
Event(s)100 m, 200 m, 400 m, 4×100 m relay, 4×400 m relay
Achievements and titles
Highest world ranking
  • No. 4 (400 m, 2023)
  • No. 14 (200 m, 2023)
  • No. 66 (overall, 2023)
Personal best(s)
  • 100 m: 11.33 (2023)
  • 200 m: 22.46 (2023)
  • 400 m: 49.81 (2023)
  • Indoors
  • 200 m: 22.97 i (2023)
  • 400 m: 50.34 i (2023)
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing the  Netherlands
World Championships
Gold medal – first place2023 Budapest4×400 m relay
Silver medal – second place2022 Eugene4×400 m mixed
World Indoor Championships
Silver medal – second place2022 Belgrade4×400 m relay
European Championships
Gold medal – first place2022 Munich4×400 m relay
European Indoor Championships
Gold medal – first place2021 Toruń4×400 m relay
Gold medal – first place2023 Istanbul4×400 m relay
Silver medal – second place2023 Istanbul400 m
European Games
Gold medal – first place2023 Chorzów200 m
Gold medal – first place2023 Chorzów4×100 m relay

Klaver represented the Netherlands at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She finished fourth in the 400 metres at the 2022 World Athletics Championships. Klaver won the silver medal for the event at the 2023 European Indoor Championships. She also took four national titles.

She earned six major medals as part of Dutch 4 × 400 m relays, either women's or mixed, including silver for the mixed relay at the 2022 World Championships and gold for the women's relay at the 2023 World Championships.

Early life

Lieke Klaver was born on 20 August 1998[2] in Velsen-Zuid in the Netherlands.

Junior career

Klaver gained her first international experience at age 15 at the 2014 World Under-20 Championships held in Eugene, Oregon, U.S., where she competed in the 4 × 100 metres relay.[2]

A year later, she reached the final of the 200 metres at the 2015 European U20 Championships in Eskilstuna, Sweden. The Dutch women's 4 × 100 m relay team was disqualified in the final there, but their time from the heats would have given them second place in the final.[2]

She was still a junior when she claimed her first senior Dutch national title, winning the 200 m at the 2017 Dutch Indoor Athletics Championships in Apeldoorn.[2]

Senior career

2018–2022
Klaver (right) passes the baton to Lisanne de Witte in the women's 4 × 400 m relay at Doha 2019.

Since 2018, Klaver has also competed in the 400 metres, gradually shifting her focus to that distance, but without losing sight of the shorter event.[3] In 2019, she won two medals for the 400 m at the Dutch Championships (indoors and outdoors).[2] It earned her a place on the national 4 × 400 m relay team, which finished seventh at the Doha World Championships in Qatar that year.[4]

In 2020, she claimed her first Dutch 400 m title (indoors), staying ahead of training buddy and rival Femke Bol.[2] During this pandemic season, Klaver won also her first Diamond League race, a victory in the 400 m at the Golden Gala in Rome, Italy with a time of 50.98 s, becoming just the second Dutch woman to break the 51-second barrier.[2]

Klaver represented Netherlands at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, competing in the women's 400 m and both the women's and mixed 4 × 400 m relays.[5] In the mixed 4 × 400 m relay, she competed in both the heats and final, in which the Dutch team finished fourth. In the women's 400 m, she was eliminated in the semi-finals. In the women's 4 × 400 m relay, she competed in the heats and final, helping the Dutch team finish in sixth place.

Klaver (right) in the 400 m final at the 2022 World Indoor Championships in Belgrade, where she finished in 6th place.

In February 2022, at the Dutch Indoor Championships, she set a new personal best for the indoor 400 m with a time of 51.20 s.[6] The following month, at the World Indoor Championships, she finished sixth in the women's 400 m. In the women's 4 × 400 m relay, she ran the first leg in the heats and final, helping the Netherlands win the silver medal. During the summer season, Klaver greatly lowered her outdoor pre-2022 best (50.98 s) down to 50.18 seconds in the semi-finals at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, where she finished fourth in the final.[2] She also competed in the mixed and women's 4 × 400 m relays. In the mixed relay, she ran the second leg in the heats and final, helping the Netherlands win the silver medal. In the women's relay, her team was disqualified in the heats.

2023
The Dutch women's team with Klaver (left), Femke Bol, Eveline Saalberg, and Cathelijn Peeters won a gold medal in the 4 × 400 m relay at the 2023 European Indoor Championships in Istanbul.

In February 2023, in the 400 m race at the Dutch Indoors in which Femke Bol set a world record of 49.26 s, Klaver massively lowered her lifetime indoor best by nearly 0.7 s down to 50.34 s, putting her joint 13th on the world all-time list. Only two-time Olympic champion, Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas, and Bol had run faster indoors since 2007.[7][8] The following month, Klaver won her first individual major medal, a silver for the 400 m at the European Indoor Championships held in Istanbul.[2]

Klaver's success carried over into the outdoor season. Throughout the season, she lowered her personal bests over 100 m, 200 m, and 400 m. Her biggest performance of the year came on 16 July at the Silesian Diamond League, where she lowered her 400 m personal best to 49.81 s, breaking the 50-second barrier for the first time in her career.

Later that year, Klaver had a busy schedule at the World Championship in Budapest. Aside from running the individual 400 metres event, she was also part of the Dutch relay squads in the mixed 4 × 400 metres, women's 4 × 400 metres, and women's 4 × 100 metres. On 19 August, during the 4 × 400 mixed relay final, Klaver's teammate Femke Bol fell within metres of the finish line, while vying with Alexis Holmes of the USA for first place. Landing face first, Bol lost the relay baton over the finish line, making it impossible for the Netherlands team to legitimately finish the race and resulting in a DNF.[9]

Klaver (center) with Natalia Kaczmarek and Rhasidat Adeleke in the 400 m final at the 2023 World Championships.

After the disappointment, Klaver continued her championships in the individual 400 metres. After winning her semi-final in 49.87 s, she looked to be a potential medal contender. In the final however, she changed her race plan, starting much faster over the first 200 metres than usual. In the final 100 metres, she fell back to the middle of the field, resulting in a sixth place finish.[10]

Later that week, Klaver was brought in for the women's 4 × 100 metres final. The Dutch team lost the baton on the last handover, resulting in another DNF.

Klaver ended her championships in the women's 4 × 400 metres final. During her second leg, she brought the Dutch team back from the middle of the pack to the top three, along with Great Britain and Jamaica. On the fourth leg, Klaver's teammate Bol anchored the Dutch team to the world title, passing the Brits and Jamaicans in the last metres.[11] Individually, Klaver ran a split time of 48.78 seconds, which was the second fastest split of the race after Bol's 48.75 seconds.[12] [13]

On 17 September, Klaver was third in the 2023 Diamond League final of the 400 metres with a time of 50.47 seconds, after champion Marileidy Paulino and Natalia Kaczmarek.[14]

Personal bests

Information from her World Athletics profile unless otherwise noted.[2]

Individual events
Type Event Time (s) Venue Date Notes
Outdoor 100 metres 11.33 Breda, Netherlands 28 July 2023 (Wind: -0.2 m/s)
150 metres 16.89 Ostrava, Czech Republic 8 September 2020 (Wind: +0.6 m/s)
200 metres 22.46 Chorzów, Poland 25 June 2023 (Wind: +1.2 m/s)
400 metres 49.81 Chorzów, Poland 16 July 2023
Indoor 60 metres 7.41 i Apeldoorn, Netherlands 1 February 2020
200 metres 22.97 i Metz, France 11 February 2023
400 metres 50.34 i Apeldoorn, Netherlands 19 February 2023

Season's bests

  Lifetime best

Year 60 m
indoor		 100 m 200 m 200 m
indoor		 400 m 400 m
indoor
2012 8.11 i–––––
2013 7.97 i12.65––––
2014 7.84 i12.0824.40–––
2015 –11.8924.03–––
2016 7.59 i11.9824.0024.59 i––
2017 7.48 i11.7423.8423.82 i––
2018 7.67 i11.4923.62–54.41 –
2019 –11.4623.35–53.1853.47 i
2020 7.41 i11.5422.66–50.9852.45 i
2021 –11.4622.8323.10 i50.9851.21 i
2022 –11.4622.7123.27 i50.1851.20 i
2023 –11.3322.4622.97 i49.8150.34 i

Team events
Type Event Time (m:)s Venue Date Record Notes
Outdoor 4 × 100 m relay 42.61 Chorzów, Poland 24 June 2023 Teamed with N'ketia Seedo, Jamile Samuel, and Tasa Jiya. Klaver ran the second leg.
4 × 400 m relay women 3:20.72 Budapest, Hungary 27 August 2023 NR Teamed with Eveline Saalberg, Cathelijn Peeters, and Femke Bol.[12] Klaver's split time for the second leg was 48.78 seconds.[12][13]
4 × 400 m relay mixed 3:09.90 Eugene, OR, United States 15 July 2022 NR Teamed with Liemarvin Bonevacia, Tony van Diepen, and Femke Bol.[15] Klaver's split time for the second leg was 49.32 seconds.[16]
Indoor 4 × 400 m relay women 3:25.66 i Istanbul, Turkey 5 March 2023 NR Third national team of all time.[17] Teamed with Eveline Saalberg, Cathelijn Peeters, and Femke Bol.[18] Klaver's split time for the first leg was 50.67 seconds.[18]

Competition results

Information from her World Athletics profile unless otherwise noted.[2]

World Athletics Rankings

  Lifetime best

Year 100 m 200 m 400 m Overall
2019 267[19]89[20]140[21]1299[22]
2020 –94[23]80[24]838[25]
2021 –34[26]11[27]205[28]
2022 –21[29]5[30]108[31]
2023 –14[32]4[33]66[34]

International competitions
Representing the  Netherlands
YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventTimeNotes
2014 World Junior Championships Eugene, OR, United States 8th (h) 4 × 100 m relay 45.29
2015 European Junior Championships Eskilstuna, Sweden 6th 200 m 23.69
– (f) 4 × 100 m relay DNF
2016 World Junior Championships Bydgoszcz, Poland – (h) 4 × 100 m relay DNF
2017 European Junior Championships Grosseto, Italy 6th 200 m 24.06
8th 4 × 100 m relay 45.61
2019 World Relays Yokohama, Japan 7th 4 × 400 m relay 3:29.03 (1st in Final B)
European Team Championships, 1st League Sandnes, Norway 3rd 4 × 400 m relay 3:33.97
World Championships Doha, Qatar 7th 4 × 400 m relay 3:27.89 [note 1]
2021 European Indoor Championships Toruń, Poland 5th 400 m 52.03 i
1st 4 × 400 m relay 3:27.15 i EL CR NR
World Relays Chorzów, Poland 4th 4 × 400 m relay 3:30.12 [note 2]
8th 4 × 400 m mixed 3:18.04 NR [note 3]
European Team Championships, 1st League Cluj-Napoca, Romania 2nd 200 m 23.32
1st 4 × 100 m relay 43.38
Olympic Games Tokyo, Japan 18th (sf) 400 m 51.37
6th 4 × 400 m relay 3:23.74 NR
4th 4 × 400 m mixed 3:10.36 NR
2022 World Indoor Championships Belgrade, Serbia 6th 400 m 52.67 i
2nd 4 × 400 m relay 3:28.57 i SB
World Championships Eugene, OR, United States 4th 400 m 50.33 (NR h & sf)
– (h) 4 × 400 m relay DQ
2nd 4 × 400 m mixed 3:09.90 NR
European Championships Munich, Germany 5th 200 m 22.88
6th 400 m 50.56
1st 4 × 400 m relay 3:20.87 AL NR (49.2 split)
2023 European Indoor Championships Istanbul, Turkey 2nd 400 m 50.57 i
1st 4 × 400 m relay 3:25.66 i CR NR
European Games / European Team Championships First Division Chorzów, Poland 1st 200 metres 22.46
1st 4 × 100 metres relay 42.61
World Championships Budapest, Hungary – (f) 4 × 400 m mixed DNF
6th 400 m 50.33
– (f) 4 × 100 m relay DNF
1st 4 × 400 m relay 3:20.72 WL NR

Circuit wins
400 metres wins

National championships
YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventTime
2013 Dutch U18 Indoor Championships Apeldoorn 8th 60 m 8.11 i
2014 Dutch U18 Indoor Championships Apeldoorn 3rd 60 m 7.85 i
Dutch U18 Championships Amsterdam 3rd 100 m 12.38
3rd 200 m 24.77
2015 Dutch U20 Championships Breda 5th 100 m 12.13
2nd 200 m 24.03
2016 Dutch Indoor Championships Apeldoorn 5th in semifinals 60 m 7.60 i
Dutch U20 Championships Breda 3rd 100 m 12.15
1st 200 m 24.15
2017 Dutch Indoor Championships Apeldoorn 4th 60 m 7.48 i
1st 200 m 23.82 i
Dutch U20/U18 Championships, U20 Events Vught 1st 100 m 11.74
1st 200 m 23.90
2018 Dutch Championships Utrecht 7th 400 m 54.55
2019 Dutch Indoor Championship Apeldoorn 2nd 400 m 53.47 i
Dutch Championships The Hague 3rd 400 m 53.18
2020 Dutch Indoor Championships Apeldoorn 1st 400 m 52.45 i
Dutch Championships Utrecht 1st 200 m 22.95
2021 Dutch Indoor Championships Apeldoorn 2nd 400 m 51.21 i
Dutch Championships Breda 2nd 200 m 23.04
2022 Dutch Indoor Championships Apeldoorn 2nd 400 m 51.20 i
Dutch Championships Apeldoorn 1st 200 m 22.74
2023 Dutch Indoor Championships Apeldoorn 2nd 400 m 50.34 i
Dutch Championships Breda 3rd 100 m 11.36

Notes
  1. Dutch team ran 3:27.40 in the heats
  2. Dutch team without Klaver ran 3:28.40 in the heats
  3. Time from the heats; Klaver was replaced in the final in which Dutch team clocked 3:21.02

References
  1. "IMM - LIEKE KLAVER". immbruxelles.com. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  2. "Lieke KLAVER – Athlete Profile". World Athletics. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  3. Gollin, Rob (12 August 2022). "400-meterloopster Lieke Klaver is een atlete om rekening mee te houden". De Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  4. "4x400 Metres Relay women. IAAF World Athletics Championships, DOHA 2019". iaaf.org. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  5. "Lieke Klaver – Biographical information". Olympedia.org. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  6. "Bol, Kambundji and Dongmo impress on busy national indoor championships weekend". World Athletics. 27 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  7. "All time Top lists – 400 metres Women – Senior Indoor | until 2023-02-19". World Athletics. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  8. Mills, Steven (19 February 2023). "World record! Bol clocks 49.26 at the Dutch Indoor Championships". European Athletics. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  9. McAlister, Sean. "World Athletics Championships 2023: USA set 4x400m mixed relay world record as Femke Bol falls in final metres". olympics.com. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  10. "Klaver na snelle start zesde in WK-finale 400 meter, Laros tiende op 1.500 meter". nos.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  11. Mitch Phillips, "Amazing Bol finish takes Dutch to 4x400m gold", Reuters, 27 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  12. "Results 4 x 400 Metres Relay Women - Final (revised)", World Athletics, 27 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  13. "Race analysis 4 x 400 Metres Relay Women - Final", World Athletics, 14 September 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  14. "Bol eindigt seizoen met Diamond League-winst, wereldrecord Tsegay en Duplantis", NOS, 17 September 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  15. "Results 4 x 400 Metres Relay Mixed - Final (revised)", World Athletics, 15 July 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  16. "Race Analysis 4 x 400 Metres Relay Mixed - Final (revised)", World Athletics, 15 July 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  17. All Time Top List 4x400 Metres Relay women, World Athletics, 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  18. "Results Book European Athletics Indoor Championships Istanbul 2023", European Athletics, 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  19. "World Rankings Women's 100m (50m-55m-60m)", World Athletics, 12 February 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  20. "World Rankings Women's 200m", World Athletics, 24 December 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  21. "World Rankings Women's 400m (300m-500m)", World Athletics, 30 July 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  22. "World Rankings Women's Overall Ranking", 30 July 2019, World Athletics. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  23. "World Rankings Women's 200m", World Athletics, 24 March 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  24. "World Rankings Women's 400m (300m-500m)", World Athletics, 1 December 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  25. "World Rankings Women's Overall Ranking", 1 December 2020, World Athletics. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  26. "World Rankings Women's 200m", World Athletics, 24 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  27. "World Rankings Women's 400m (300m-500m)", World Athletics, 10 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  28. "World Rankings Women's Overall Ranking", 28 December 2021, World Athletics. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  29. "World Rankings Women's 200m", World Athletics, 13 September 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  30. "World Rankings Women's 400m (300m-500m)", World Athletics, 26 July 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  31. "World Rankings Women's Overall Ranking", World Athletics, 26 July 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  32. "World Rankings Women's 200m", World Athletics, 8 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  33. "World Rankings Women's 400m (300m-500m)", World Athletics, 12 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  34. "World Rankings Women's Overall Ranking", World Athletics, 18 July 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
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