 Hak at the2010 European Championships | |||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
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| Nationality | Dutch | ||||||||||||||
| Born | (1986-06-30)30 June 1986 (age 38) Alkmaar, Netherlands | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Yvonne Hak (Dutch pronunciation:[iˈvɔnəˈɦɑk]; born 30 June 1986) is a Dutchmiddle-distance runner, who specialises in the800 metres. She won gold at the2010 European Athletics Championships.
Yvonne Hak was born on 30 June 1986 inAlkmaar in theNetherlands.
She took part in the under-23 race at the2006 European Cross Country Championships and was 63rd overall, helping the Dutch women's team to fourth place. She won the 800 m for the Netherlands at the2008 European Cup inAnnecy, France. She made her breakthrough into the senior ranks in 2009. At the2009 European Athletics Indoor Championships she reached the semi-finals of the 800 m and then won at the2009 European Team Championships First League meet (where she also helped the Dutch4×400 metres relay team to thebronze medal.[citation needed]
Hak gained her first victory on the major circuit with a close win overEgle Balciunaite, running 2:00.53, at theGolden Spike Ostrava meeting.[1] She managed only the bronze medal at the2010 European Team Championships, but greater success came at the2010 European Athletics Championships. At the major championships inBarcelona she ran a personal best of 1:58.85 in the 800 m to win thesilver medal behindMariya Savinova, making her the first Dutch athlete to medal in the event sinceGerda Kraan in1962 European Athletics Championships. Her first major medal was unexpected for Hak: "It was a big surprise for me. My goal was to reach the final".[2] Her new best also raised her to number three on the Dutch all-time lists behindEllen van Langen andStella Jongmans.
| Awards | ||
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| Preceded by | Women's Dutch Athlete of the Year 2010 | Succeeded by |
European Athletics Championships champions in women's800 metres | |
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