Nida Senff

In the mid-1930s Dutch competitive swimmer Nida Senff set multiple world records and won gold at the Olympics. Senff was the Dutch champion in the 100 metres backstroke in 1935 and 1937, and set five world records during this period. Her greatest moment, however, came in the 100 metres backstroke at the 1936 Berlin Olympics where she competed alongside compatriot and world record holder Rie Mastenbroek. Senff set the fastest times in both the heats and semi-finals, with both Dutch women advancing to the final. Senff built up an apparently unassailable lead at halfway but she made what appeared to be a disastrous error and failed to touch the wall. Rather than risk disqualification she turned round and went back but dropped from first to sixth. Mastenbroek moved ahead of the pack but she clipped the lane dividers and lost enough time for Senff to close back on her. With twenty metres left Senff edged into the lead and held on to win gold. She later married fellow Dutch swimmer Stans Scheffer, although the pair later divorced. Senff was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1983.