The gold medal secured by Pernille Blume in the 50-metre freestyle at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics marked the first time a Danish swimmer had achieved such a victory since Karen Harup in 1948. This career-defining performance established the Herlev-born athlete as a premier force in international sprint freestyle competition.
Early Competitive Development
Born on 14 May 1994, Blume represented the Kingdom of Denmark across multiple international stages. Her early Olympic experience occurred at the 2012 London Games, where she participated in five events. While she did not secure individual podium finishes in London, she played a vital role in setting a Danish national record in the 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay with a time of 3:37.45.
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Between 2012 and 2014, Blume solidified her standing in short course swimming. She claimed gold in the 4 × 100 metre medley relay at the 2012 World Short Course Championships. By 2014, she helped establish a world record in the 4 × 50 metre medley relay. Her 2016 Olympic gold was followed by a bronze in the 4 × 100 metre medley relay, where she anchored the team to a finish just 0.01 seconds behind the Australian silver medalists. At the closing ceremony in Rio, she served as the Danish flag bearer.
Continued Competition and Media Transition
At the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, held in 2021, Blume earned a bronze medal in the 50-metre freestyle. Following this event, she pivoted toward reality television, reaching the semifinals and eventually placing third in the Danish dance competition Vild med dans with her partner, Morten Kjeldgaard. Her television tenure included a notable performance in the Argentine tango.
Club Changes and Retirement
Blume maintained a long association with the Sigma Nordsjælland Club before moving to the French club CN Antibes in February 2022 to continue her training. After a brief return to the water following the Tokyo Games, she announced her permanent retirement from professional swimming later that year. Her contributions to the sport were formally recognized with her induction into the Danish Sports Hall of Fame in 2025.
Fast facts
- Born: 14 May 1994, Herlev, Denmark
- 2016 Olympic Gold: 50-metre freestyle
- 2020 Olympic Bronze: 50-metre freestyle
- Club representation: Sigma Nordsjælland, CN Antibes
- Danish Sports Name of the Year: 2016
- Danish Sports Hall of Fame induction: 2025
Questions readers ask
Did Pernille Blume win more than one Olympic medal?
Yes, she won a gold medal in the 50-metre freestyle and a bronze in the 4 × 100 metre medley relay in 2016, plus a bronze medal in the 50-metre freestyle in 2021.
When did she retire from professional swimming?
She announced her permanent retirement from the sport in 2022 after brief training with the French club CN Antibes.
Achievements
- Danish Sports Hall of Fame — 2025
- Represented Energy Standard
- Competed at swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics – women's 50 metre freestyle, swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics – women's 100 metre freestyle and swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics – women's 200
- Discipline: competitive swimming
