Raymonda Vergouwen competed for Belgium, but had grown up just across the Dutch border in Zeeuws Vlaanderen. As her talent became visible at swimming club De Bruinvis in Sas van Gent, she transferred to GZV in Gent (Belgium), which would more easily allow her to compete internationally. Her strongest event was the 200 m breaststroke, in which she won her first of six national titles in 1949 (the others came in 1950-53 and 1955; she won a title in life-saving as well). In 1950, she added the European title to her list of honors, beating two Dutch swimmers to the gold. Her hopes of an Olympic title in Helsinki were dashed by illness. Retiring from competitive swimming in 1960, Vergouwen remained involved with the sport as a judge and in 1984 she made her return to the Olympics in that role. Outside of sports, she worked as an executive secretary at the glass factory in her hometown.
Belgium