Heather Bergsma (née Richardson; born March 20, 1989) is an American former speed skater who competed between 2006 and 2020.

Career Bergsma is a native of North Carolina. She represented the United States at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, where she finished 6th in 500 metres, 9th in the 1000 metres, and 16th in the 1500 metres. At the 2011 World Single Distance Championships in Inzell, Germany, she won a bronze medal in the 1000 metres. She also placed 8th in the 500 metres, and was part of the team pursuit team that finished in 8th place.

On January 26–27, 2013, Bergsma won the gold medal at the 2013 World Sprint Championships in Salt Lake City, United States. She has since won several world championship medals, and earned numerous podium placings in the World Cup. At the 2018 Winter Olympics, she won the bronze medal in the team pursuit.

Bergsma held the American record on the 500 metres distance from 2011 to 2021. She is the current world record holder in the 2 x 500 meters, and held the 1500 metres world record from 2015 to 2019, and also briefly held the 1000 metres world record in November 2015, and the sprint combination world record from 2013 to 2017.

She announced her retirement from skating in February 2020.

Personal life Bergsma married Dutch speed skater and marathon skater Jorrit Bergsma in May 2015, and competed as Heather Richardson-Bergsma the following season.

Speed skating

Records

Personal records

World records

Results timeline Season World Sprint World SD World Cup Olympic Games 2007–08 25th Did notparticipate 53rd 500 mNC 1000 m Not held 2008–09 20th 16th 2x500 m15th 1000 m NC 100 m28th 500 m22nd 1000 mNC 1500 m 2009–10 Did notparticipate Not held 9th 500 m9th 1000 m 6th 2x500 m9th 1000 m16th 1500 m 2010–11 4th 6th 2x500 m 1000 m8th team pursuit 4th 500 m 1000 m14th 1500 m Not held 2011–12 6th 4th 2x500 m4th 1000 m8th team pursuit 9th 500 m 1000 m21st 1500 m 2012–13 8th 2x500 m6th 1000 m 5th 500 m 1000 m33rd 1500 m 2013–14 Not held 500 m 1000 m17th 1500 m1st GWC 8th 2x500 m7th 1000 m7th 1500 m6th team pursuit 2014–15 2x500 m 1000 m 1500 m 500 m5th 1000 m 1500 m30th 3k/5k18th mass start1st GWC Not held 2015–16 5th 2x500 m 1000 m 1500 m13th mass start 500 m 1000 m 1500 m6th mass start Note: NC = No classification.

References

External links

Heather Bergsma at U.S. Speedskating