{{Short description|Dutch swimmer (born 1947)}} {{Infobox swimmer | name = Ada Kok | image = IISG AHF 19400 1963-09-02.jpg | caption = | national_team = Netherlands | fullname = Aagje Kok | strokes = Butterfly | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1947|06|06}} | birth_place = Amsterdam, Netherlands | death_date = | death_place = | height = {{height|m=1.83}} | weight = | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Women's swimming}} {{MedalCountry | the {{NED}} }} {{MedalCompetition|Olympic Games}} {{MedalGold | 1968 Mexico City | 200 m butterfly}} {{MedalSilver | 1964 Tokyo | 100 m butterfly}} {{MedalSilver | 1964 Tokyo | 4×100 m medley}} {{MedalCompetition| European Championships }} {{MedalGold | 1962 Leipzig | 100 m butterfly}} {{MedalGold | 1966 Utrecht | 100 m butterfly}} {{MedalGold | 1966 Utrecht | 4×100 m medley}} {{MedalSilver | 1962 Leipzig | 4×100 m medley }} {{MedalSilver | 1966 Utrecht | 400 m freestyle}} }}
'''Aagje ("Ada") Kok''' (born 6 June 1947, in Amsterdam, North Holland) is a Dutch former swimmer who ranked among the world's best in the butterfly stroke category during the 1960s.
Her international career started in 1962 when, at the age of fifteen, she took the European title in the 100 m butterfly in Leipzig. She was also part of the silver 4×100 m medley relay team. At the Tokyo Olympics two years later she finished second in both events. She was also good at freestyle swimming, which showed when she took second place in the 400 metres at the 1966 European Championships in Utrecht. In the same tournament she also won the 100 m butterfly and the 4×100 m relay. She achieved nine world records between 1963 and 1967 in the 100 m and 200 m (not introduced until later).
Kok reached her peak at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. She won the gold medal in the 200 meter butterfly race in a time of 2:24.7, beating the East German Helga Lindner by 0.1 seconds. The 100 meter butterfly race in that Olympic Games ended in disappointment for her, when she did not feel well beforehand, and finished in fourth place..
{{cquote|Normally after a race there were always people around me. This time nobody. Nobody. I suddenly felt so abandoned and alone. Then under the shower I lost control and cried my eyes out.'
For the 200 meter final, I was so stiff and rigid that I couldn't even see myself getting my tracksuit bottoms off. My fingers couldn't get the zipper undone. An official had to help me with it. I don't remember anything now of the first hundred metres. It's a black hole. Well anyway, after 150 meters I was in the lead. Twenty meters from the finish, I saw someone (Lindner) catching up with me. I thought, "Jesus, no, she is not getting past me." Fortunately, I was able to keep in front.}}
In her memoirs written by Henk Lichtenveldt, she stated:
{{cquote|Approaching the podium of honor I felt like I was walking on clouds. I had to contain myself because I wanted to rush over the stands skipping like a foal. This was the crowning moment in a great swimming career.}}
==See also== * List of members of the International Swimming Hall of Fame * World record progression 100 metres butterfly * World record progression 200 metres butterfly
==References== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20060924231350/http://www.sport.nl/olympischarchief/home.php3/ Dutch Olympic Committee]
== External links == * {{World Aquatics}} * {{International Swimming Hall of Fame}} * {{Olympedia}} * {{Olympics.com}}
{{s-start}} {{s-ach|rec}} {{succession box|before={{flagicon|USA}} Kathy Ellis|title=Women's 100 metre butterfly<br>world record holder (long course)|years=1 September 1963 – 16 October 1964|after={{flagicon|USA}} Sharon Stouder}} {{succession box|before={{flagicon|USA}} Sharon Stouder|title=Women's 100 metre butterfly<br>world record holder (long course)|years=14 August 1965 – 20 August 1970|after={{flagicon|USA}} Alice Jones}} {{succession box|before={{flagicon|USA}} Kenis Moore|title=Women's 200 metre butterfly<br>world record holder (long course)|years=21 August 1965 – 11 July 1970|after={{flagicon|USA}} Karen Moe}} {{s-ach|aw}} {{succession box|title=Dutch Sportswoman of the Year|before=Sjoukje Dijkstra |after=Stien Kaiser|years=1965, 1966}} {{succession box|title=Dutch Sportswoman of the Year|before=Stien Kaiser |after=Maria Gommers|years=1968}} {{s-end}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions 200 m Butterfly Women}} {{Footer European Champions 100m Butterfly Women}} {{Footer European Champions 4x100m Medley Women}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kok, Ada}} Category:1947 births Category:Living people Category:Dutch female butterfly swimmers Category:Dutch female freestyle swimmers Category:World record setters in swimming Category:Olympic gold medalists for the Netherlands Category:Olympic silver medalists for the Netherlands Category:Olympic swimmers for the Netherlands Category:Swimmers from Amsterdam Category:Swimmers at the 1964 Summer Olympics Category:Swimmers at the 1968 Summer Olympics Category:Medalists at the 1964 Summer Olympics Category:Medalists at the 1968 Summer Olympics Category:European Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming Category:Olympic gold medalists in swimming Category:Olympic silver medalists in swimming Category:People from Hulsberg Category:Swimmers from Limburg (Netherlands) Category:20th-century Dutch sportswomen