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Henrik Christiansen

View Current photo via Courtesy of Mike Lewis

Henrik Christiansen holds multiple distance national records for his home nation of Norway and in 2016 made his Olympic debut at 19 years old. But swimming on the world’s biggest stage wasn’t always the ultimate dream for Christiansen. From a young age he was involved on another stage, putting on plays and taking part in the theater. There came a time he had a tough decision to make to focus on acting or swimming. He chose the latter, and just a few years later was representing his country.

Christiansen and his coach Ronnie Austensen have build up a strong trust over the years they have worked together. Christiansen says they work in collaboration and challenge each other. He believes at home in Norway is the best place he can reach success, which is why he reportedly turned down scholarships to swim at Stanford and UC Berkeley in 2016.

International Career

As a junior swimmer, Christiansen won three medals at the 2014 European Championships. A silver in the 400 meter freestyle in a new national record of 3:49.60 and two bronzes in the 800 and 1,500 meter freestyle. A month later, he picked up another two bronze medals in the 400 and 800 meter freestyle at the Youth Olympic Games.

2015 FINA World Championships

Christiansen gained more international experience in Kazan, Russia. In the 800 meter freestyle he made his first World Championship final, moving up from eighth position to fifth in a new national record of 7:45.66. In the 1,500 and 400 meter freestyle he finished 12th and 13th. He also swam the 400 meter individual medley finishing in 25th and breaking another national record in 4:21.67.

2016 European Championships

In the final test before the Olympics, Christiansen won a silver medal in the 400 meter freestyle, breaking the Norwegian record in 3:46.49.

2016 Rio Olympic Games

At 19-years-old, Christiansen appeared in his first Olympic Games, making the final in the 1,500 meter freestyle. He qualified for the final in eighth place in a new national record of 14:55.40. He wasn’t able to better his time in the final and finished eighth overall.

He also swam the 200 and 400 meter freestyle. In the 200 he finished 40th in 1:50.09 and in the 400 he finished 17th in 3:47.90.

2017 World Championships

Christiansen’s best finish at his second World Championships came in the 800 meter freestyle where he finished 4th in 7:44.21. He had another good swim in the 1,500 meter freestyle touching 5th in 14:54.58, another new national record. In the 400 meter freestyle Christiansen missed out on the final finishing 11th in 3:46.96.

2018 European Championships

In Glasgow, Christiansen earned his 3rd consecutive silver medal in the 400 free, finishing behind Mykhailo Romanchuk in a time of 3:47.07.]

2018 Short Course World Championships

In Hangzhou, Christiansen was the runnerup in the 400 freestyle (3:36.64). He also earned a bronze medal in the 1500 freestyle in a personal best time of 14:19.39.

2019 World Championships

Christiansen continued his medal streak in Gwangju, earning silver in the men’s 800 free, surging at the end of the race to touch for 2nd behind Greg Paltrinieri in a time of 7:41.28.

International Medals

Place Event Year Meet
Silver 800 Free 2019 World Championships
Silver 400 Free 2018 Short Course World Championships
Bronze 1500 Free 2018 Short Course World Championships
Silver 400 Free 2018 European Championships
Silver 400 Free 2016 European Championships
Bronze 1500 Free 2014 European Championships
Bronze 800 Free 2014 European Championships
Silver 400 Free 2014 European Championships

Best Times

Course Event Time Date Meet
lcm 400 Free 3:46.39 05/16/16 2016 European Championships
London
lcm 800 Free 7:41.28 07/24/19 2019 World Championships
Gwangju, South Korea
lcm 1500 Free 14.54.58 07/30/17 2017 World Championships
Budapest, Hungary
scm 400 Free 3:36.64 12/11/18 2018 Short Course World Championships
Hangzhou, China
scm 1500 Free 14:19.39 12/16/18 2018 Short Course World Championships
Hangzhou, China
Photo Credit: Peter Sukeník (photo: Mike Lewis) (photo: Mike Lewis)