Inge de Bruijn

Inge de Bruijn as NOS reporter at the European Swimming Championships 2008 in Eindhoven

Inge de Bruijn ( born August 24, 1973 in Barendrecht ) is a former Dutch swimmer and four-time Olympic gold medalist.

Career

De Bruijn tried out in several sports before they focused on a career as a professional swimmer. Her international debut at the European Swimming Championships in 1991 in Athens when she won the gold medal with the Dutch 4 × 100 m freestyle relay. In the staged in Perth in the same year World Swimming Championships, she won with the Dutch squadron bronze.

The following year, de Bruijn joined Barcelona the first time at the Olympics. About 100 m freestyle and the 4 × 100 m freestyle relay, she won the 8th place respectively. In the following years she suffered greatly from lack of motivation weaknesses. They opted not to participate in the Olympic Games in 1996.

However, this decision she regretted so much that she decided to move to the U.S. to train there. This decision was rewarded with the title over 50 m freestyle at the European Swimming Championships in Istanbul in 1999.

After de Bruijn 2000 before the Olympic Games swam several world records, she stepped into Sydney as a top favorite. This role was fair and was 50 m and 100 m freestyle, where she fought down each Therese Alshammar from Sweden, pointing to rank 2, and more than 100 m butterfly Olympic champion. In addition, she won with the Dutch 4 × 100 m freestyle relay silver medal.

Their performance could confirm at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka in 2001. There she won the title over 50 m freestyle, 100 m freestyle and 50 m butterfly. Two years later in Barcelona, ​​de Bruijn secured over 50 m butterfly her fourth world title. In their home country de Bruijn was elected in 2001 Athlete of the Year. At the 2004 Olympics in Athens, she was able to prevail over 50m freestyle again, but was conquered over 100m freestyle of the Australian Jodie Henry and was beaten with rank 2. Moreover, de Bruijn won two bronze medals: the 100m butterfly and with the Dutch 4 × 100 m freestyle relay.

Awards

  • World Swimmer of the Year 2000, 2001
  • European Swimmer of the Year in 1999, 2000, 2001
  • European Athlete of the Year (PAP ), 2000
  • European Athlete of the Year ( UEPS ), 2000
  • Dutch Sportswoman of the Year 2001
Nederlandse Omroep Stichting Summer Olympic Games 1999 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) 1991 European Aquatics Championships 1993 European Aquatics Championships Freestyle swimming Dutch Sportsman of the year List of Swimming World Swimmers of the Year Kristin Otto Yang Wenyi Amy Van Dyken Britta Steffen Ethel Lackie Albina Osipowich Helene Madison Rie Mastenbroek Greta Andersen Dawn Fraser Jan Henne Barbara Krause Nancy Hogshead-Makar Carrie Steinseifer Shelley Mann Carolyn Schuler Sharon Stouder Lyn McClements Mayumi Aoki Caren Metschuck Mary T. Meagher Petria Thomas Dana Vollmer Danni Miatke Inge Dekker Catherine Plewinski Jutta Langenau Ada Kok Andrea Gyarmati Rosemarie Gabriel Andrea Pollack Mette Jacobsen
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