Mirjam de Koning is a former Dutch professional swimmer with a form of paraplegia. She participated in 2 Paralympic Games and 2 World Championships. Where she won a combined 3 Gold Medals, 4 Silver Medals and 3 Bronze Medals. Mirjam held 4 World Records.
Mirjam was born with damaged connective tissue. Over the years her condition deteriorated and Mirjam had to spend most of her days in bed. For this reason she had experimental surgery done in 2000, during which unfortunately a nerve was damaged. This left her with a form of paraplegia and she had to start using a wheelchair. After the surgery, Mirjam decided to play basketball.
However after 4 years, she had to stop as she had too many basketball-related injuries. In 2004 she switched to swimming. What a success story this decision soon became!
A few months before the London Paralympics Mirjam came to Vicair (headoffice in The Netherlands) asking if we could help her during her preparation.
At that time she was suffering from pressure injuries and they were affecting her Paralympic training schedule. Of course we immediately agreed to help and the same day she was using the Vicair Vector cushion. The pressure injuries healed, Mirjam could train more and… she won a Bronze medal on her last Paralympic race ever.
After the London Paralympics Mirjam became a member of the Vicair product development team the same team that developed her Vicair Active wheelchair cushion.
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2008 Beijing 100m backstroke S6
Gold medal – first place 2008 Beijing 50m freestyle S6
Silver medal – second place 2008 Beijing 100m freestyle S6
Silver medal – second place 2008 Beijing 400m freestyle S6
Bronze medal – third place 2012 London 100m backstroke S6
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2006 Durban 50m freestyle S6
Silver medal – second place 2010 Eindhoven 50m freestyle S6
Silver medal – second place 2010 Eindhoven 100m freestyle S6
Bronze medal – third place 2006 Durban 100m freestyle S6
Bronze medal – third place 2006 Durban 100m backstroke S6