The European record for the 200 metres, set at 21.63 seconds, belongs to Dafne Schippers. This performance established her as the sixth-fastest woman in history over the distance. Throughout her career, the Utrecht native transitioned from a promising heptathlete into a specialized sprinter, securing multiple global titles and setting numerous national records for the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Early Career and Heptathlon
Born in 1992, Schippers began her athletics training at the Hellas club in Utrecht at age nine. She initially focused on combined events, earning gold medals at the 2010 World Junior Championships and the 2011 European Athletics Junior Championships. Her heptathlon development culminated in a bronze medal at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow, where she achieved a personal best in the 800 metres to secure a podium finish. By 2014, she recorded 6545 points at the Hypo-Meeting in Götzis, establishing a national record in the heptathlon.
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Following her success at the 2014 European Athletics Championships, where she claimed gold in both the 100 metres and 200 metres, Schippers shifted her focus exclusively to sprinting. This decision preceded the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, where she secured the silver medal in the 100 metres and the gold medal in the 200 metres. During this period, she was named European Athlete of the Year in both 2014 and 2015.
Global Competition and Retirement
Schippers competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics, earning a silver medal in the 200 metres. Seeking further improvements, she subsequently transitioned to training under coach Rana Reider. This adjustment supported her defense of the 200-metre title at the 2017 World Championships in London, where she also collected a bronze in the 100 metres. Throughout her professional tenure, she garnered twenty-two Dutch titles and received the Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau award in 2017. She retired from professional athletics in 2023.
Fast facts
- Born: 1992, Utrecht
- Citizenship: Kingdom of the Netherlands
- Primary Sport: Athletics
- 200m European Record: 21.63 seconds
- Awards: Talent of the year (2011)
- Honours: Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau (2017)
- Retirement Year: 2023
Questions readers ask
What is Dafne Schippers' best 200m time?
Her personal best and the current European record is 21.63 seconds.
Did Schippers compete in the heptathlon?
Yes, she was a heptathlete early in her career and won a bronze medal in the event at the 2013 World Championships.
Achievements
- Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau
- Competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics
- Competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics
- 2013 World Championships in Athletics
- 2015 World Championships in Athletics
- 2011 World Championships in Athletics
- 2017 World Championships in Athletics
