Julia Hassler

Julia Hassler (born 27 February 1993) is a national-record holding swimmer from Liechtenstein and three-time Olympian.^[1] She was the Liechtenstein flag-bearer in the closing-ceremony of the 2012 Olympics, as well as the opening ceremonies in 2016 and 2021. She won the bronze medal at the 2017 European Short Course Swimming Championships.

Julia Hassler

Hassler in 2021
Personal information
Born	(1993-02-27) 27 February 1993 (age 32) Schellenberg, Liechtenstein
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	73 kg (161 lb)
Sport
Country	Liechtenstein
Sport	Swimming
Event	Freestyle
Club	SC Unterland, Eschen
Medal record European Championships (SC) 2017 Copenhagen 400 m freestyle Games of the Small States of Europe 2011 Liechtenstein 800 m freestyle 2011 Liechtenstein 200 m butterfly 2013 Luxembourg 400 m freestyle 2013 Luxembourg 800 m freestyle 2013 Luxembourg 100 m butterfly 2013 Luxembourg 200 m butterfly 2015 Iceland 200 m freestyle 2015 Iceland 400 m freestyle 2015 Iceland 800 m freestyle 2017 San Marino 200 m freestyle 2017 San Marino 400 m freestyle 2017 San Marino 800 m freestyle 2019 Montenegro 200 m freestyle 2019 Montenegro 400 m freestyle 2019 Montenegro 800 m freestyle 2019 Montenegro 100 m butterfly 2019 Montenegro 200 m butterfly 2019 Montenegro 400 m medley 2011 Liechtenstein 200 m freestyle 2011 Liechtenstein 400m freestyle 2011 Liechtenstein 400 m medley 2013 Luxembourg 200 m freestyle 2017 San Marino 100 m freestyle 2013 Luxembourg 100 m freestyle 2013 Luxembourg 400 m medley 2013 Luxembourg 4x100 m freestyle 2013 Luxembourg 4x200 m freestyle 2015 Iceland 100 m butterfly 2015 Iceland 400 m medley

Career

Hassler swam for Liechtenstein at numerous international competitions. From 2011 she won 18 gold medals over five editions of the Games of the Small States of Europe, and 29 medals overall.^[2]

At the 2012 Olympics, she was one of three athletes to compete for Liechtenstein. She swam the 400 and 800 freestyles, setting national records in both (4:12.99 and 8:35.18),^[3] finishing 27th in the 400^[4] and 17th in the 800.^[5] She carried Liechtenstein's flag at the Closing Ceremony of the Games.^[6]

At the 2016 Summer Olympics, Hassler competed in the 800 m freestyle event. She placed 21st in the heats with a time of 8:38.19 and did not qualify for the final.^[7] She was the flagbearer for Liechtenstein during the Parade of Nations at the start of the event.^[8]

In 2017, Hassler won the 400 metres freestyle bronze medal at the European Short Course Swimming Championships.^[2] She competed in her third Olympics at the 2020 Summer Olympics, held in 2021, carrying her national flag in the opening ceremony and taking part in the 400 metres, 800 metres and 1500 metres events.^[6]

In November 2021, Hassler announced her retirement from competitive swimming. At that time she held Liechtenstein Records, both long course (50m) and short course (25m), in the: 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1500 freestyle; 100 and 200 butterfly; and 400 metres individual medley, as well as the short course 50m freestyle.^[2]