Claudia Poll

Claudia Poll
Poll in 2011
Personal information
Full nameClaudia María Poll Ahrens
Nationality Costa Rica
Born (1972-12-21) 21 December 1972
Managua, Nicaragua
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle
ClubAsociación de Natación Cariari
Medal record
Women's swimming
Representing  Costa Rica
Olympic Games
1996 Atlanta200 m freestyle
2000 Sydney200 m freestyle
2000 Sydney400 m freestyle
World Championships (LC)
1998 Perth200 m freestyle
2001 Fukuoka400 m freestyle
1994 Rome200 m freestyle
1994 Rome400 m freestyle
World Championships (SC)
1995 Rio de Janeiro200 m freestyle
1995 Rio de Janeiro400 m freestyle
1997 Gothenburg200 m freestyle
1997 Gothenburg400 m freestyle
Pan Pacific Championships
1993 Kobe200 m freestyle
1997 Fukuoka200 m freestyle
1997 Fukuoka400 m freestyle
1993 Kobe400 m freestyle
1997 Fukuoka800 m freestyle
1993 Kobe800 m freestyle
1995 Atlanta200 m freestyle
1999 Sydney400 m freestyle

Claudia María Poll Ahrens (born 21 December 1972) is a Costa Rican-Nicaraguan former swimmer who competed in the 200 m to 800 m freestyle events. She is Costa Rica's only Olympic gold-medalist, having won the country's first Olympic gold medals at the 1996 Olympics in the 200 meter freestyle. Claudia also competed at the 2000 Olympics, where she won two bronze medals. She is a multiple national record holder in the freestyle events.

She is the first person from Central America to win an Olympic gold medal. She was the only to do so until the 2008 Olympic Games when long jump athlete Irving Saladino of Panama won a gold medal.