Griet Bijlsma


Griet Hoogstins-Bijlsma was a Dutch kortebaanschaatsen speed skater.
Bijlsma was born in Eernewoude and lived there during her speed skating career. She won her first prize money on February 8th, 1929 in Suameer. On February 16th of that same year she won a golden watch in a competition of 46 women in Grouw. She became in the 1933-34 speed skating season the Dutch champion at the second Dutch national championships kortebaanschaatsen in Warga on December 17th, 1933. The Championships were criticized as the skating lanes were too narrow and after the finish too short. She won the final of Pietje Feitsma. Trijntje Hemminga became third.
Bijlsma won many races, and prizes. By 1936 she had only participated in one competition where she didn’t win anything.
She was also the Frisian champion in 1940. She competed until at least 1943.
Bijlsma married in 1935. In the early 1950s she emigrated with her family and parents to Ladner near Vancouver, Canada.