Maria Johanna "Ma" Braun (Delfshaven, 28 December 1881 – Rotterdam, 9 October 1956) was a Dutch swimming coach. She led the Dutch women's swimming team at the 1928–1952 Olympics and at the European championships in between, with her trainees winning medals at each of these competitions. Owing to her efforts, later supported by another prominent Dutch coach Jan Stender, the Netherlands was one of the leading women's swimming nations of the 1930s–1960s. Throughout her entire career Braun tried new strokes and training methods, and traveled throughout Europe to learn from competitors. In 1967 she was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. [1]
Delfshaven is a borough of Rotterdam on the right bank of river Nieuwe Maas, in South Holland, the Netherlands. It was a separate municipality until 1886.
Rotterdam is the second-largest city and a municipality of the Netherlands. It is located in the province of South Holland, at the mouth of the Nieuwe Maas channel leading into the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta at the North Sea. Its history goes back to 1270, when a dam was constructed in the Rotte, after which people settled around it for safety. In 1340, Rotterdam was granted city rights by the Count of Holland.
Jan Stender was a Dutch swimming coach. During the 1940s–1950s he raised at least eight world record holders who set more than 50 world records in total. In 1973, he was inducted to the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
Her trainees included Marie Baron, Willy den Ouden, Rie Mastenbroek, her daughter Marie Braun, Puck Oversloot, Ria van der Horst, Irma Schuhmacher and Jopie van Alphen. Her daughter won the 100 m backstroke at the 1928 Summer Olympics, and Mastenbroek remains the only woman to win both the 100 and 400 meter Olympic freestyle, which she had done in 1936. [1]
Mietje "Marie" Baron was a Dutch swimmer and diver who competed at the 1924 and 1928 Olympics. In 1924 she was sixth in the 4 × 100 m freestyle relay. She was disqualified in the first round of the 200 m breaststroke event, as the judges believed she touched the wall with one hand instead of two hands at one of the turns. Meanwhile, her time of 3:22.6 was several seconds ahead of the gold medalist. Four years later she swam 3:15.2, but this was only enough for a silver medal, as her main rival Hilde Schrader clocked 3:12.6. At the 1928 Games Baron also competed in the 10 m platform diving event and finished fourth.
Willemijntje den Ouden was a competitive swimmer from the Netherlands, who held the 100-meter freestyle world record for nearly 23 years, from 1933 to 1956.
Hendrika "Rie" Wilhelmina Mastenbroek was a Dutch swimmer and a triple Olympic champion.
