Mirjam van Laar in 1977

Mirjam van Laar (born 24 September 1956) is a Dutch former heptathlete and high jumper. She held the Dutch high jump record, both indoors and outdoors. She was named Dutch athlete of the year.

Mirjam van Laar was a physical education teacher. She was affiliated with the Achilles-Top athletics club in Kerkrade.

Career

On the weekend of July 30 and 31, 1977, during the pentathlon in Sittard, Van Laar equaled the Dutch record for high jump outdoors (1.88 m). Van Laar was named KNAU athlete of the year in 1977.

She became the holder of the Dutch indoor high jump record with the same height (1.88) on 11 March 1978, during the 1978 European Indoor Championships in Milan, finishing in fifth place.[1]  Her record was equaled by Ella Wijnants in 1983, Monique van der Weide in 1990 and Karin Ruckstuhl in 2007, and only improved to 1.92 by Remona Fransen in the pentathlon at the 2011 European Indoor Championships in Paris .

Van Laar hoped to qualify for the 1980 Summer Olympic Games in Moscow,[2] but was unable to do so. In November 1980, she received medical advice to quit top-level sports due to back problems.[3][4]

References

  1. ↑ "Knappe prestatie Mirjam van Laar". Nieuwsblad van het Noorden. 1978-03-13. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  2. ↑ "Sport 4 Vandaag trouwen, dan aan Moskou bouwen Jaar van de waarheid voor Mirjam van Laar". Limburgsch dagblad. 1979-01-06. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  3. ↑ "Rugklachten oorzaak van onverwachte beslissing Mirjam van Laar moet stoppen". Limburgsch dagblad. 1980-11-19. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  4. ↑ "Afscheid van Mirjam van Laar". Limburgsch dagblad. 1981-03-31. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
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