#4 | Female Athlete of 2015

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Dafne Schippers Isn't Just a Heptathlete Anymore

Before winning gold in the 200m this summer at the 2015 World Championships, the NetherlandsÂ’ Dafne Schippers was training as a full time heptathlete. She took home the bronze medal in the multi event at the 2013 World Championships but had typically remained a vital part of her countryÂ’s sprint crew on the relays. ThatÂ’s what makes her transition into a full-time sprinter special. She won two European gold medals at their championship in 2014 (100m, 200m) but 2015 is where she made herself a household name.

She took the 60m at the 2015 European Indoor Championships and stormed her way into the outdoor season. She broke her own 100m national record three times, finally running 10.81 in the finals at the World Championships in Beijing to claim silver behind Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.



In the 200m, she had two runner-up finishes in different Diamond League meetings before Beijing. When she won her first ever World Championship gold medal in an astonishing 21.63, the third-fastest time ever recorded, she led two others, Elaine Thompson and Veronica Campbell-Brown, under 22.00, as well. Schippers' mark set a new World Championship record.



Her winning time is faster than any mark set by 200m specialist Allyson Felix. While Felix moved up to the 400m in Beijing, successfully we might add, SchippersÂ’ victory sets up an interesting showdown in Rio next summer. Even more so because Schippers beat Felix in the Diamond League finale in Brussels after the World Championships, winning in 22.12 over Felix's 22.26.