Maria Martina "Ria" van Velsen (22 March 1943 – 25 October 2025) was a Dutch backstroke swimmer who participated in the 1960 and 1964 Summer Olympics. In 1960, she was seventh individually in the 100m backstroke event. She was also part of the Dutch medley team that broke the 4 × 100 m medley Olympic record in the preliminaries; however, they finished fourth in the final.Ria van Velsen. sports-reference.com She also won two medals at the 1962 European Aquatics Championships,EUROPEAN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS (WOMEN). gbrathletics.com and set four world records: three in 100m backstroke (1958, 1959, 1960) and one in the 4 × 100 m medley relay (1964).Ria van Velsen. chello.nl. sportsillustrated.cnn.com (6 July 1964). Van Velsen died on 25 October 2025, at the age of 82.
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