Name: Inge de Bruijn
Residence: Barendrecht
Date of birth: 24 augustus 1973
Height: 1.78 m.
Weight: 60 kg
Profession: zwemster
Trainde in 2003/2004 bij: Tualatin Hills Swim Club
Lid geweest van: De Dolfijn, ZPB, Nautilus en PSV)
Coaches: Paul Bergen {USA}, Jacco Verhaeren, Fedor Hes, Erik van Westen, Jeff Sluyters, Bea vanRinsum-de Groen
Knight in the Order of the Dutch Lion
Laatste wedstrijd OS 2004; officieel gestopt met topzwemmen in maart 2007
Swimming history 1999, 2000 and 2001 have been great years for Inge de Bruijn. For the first time, her name appeared on the world record lists, thanks to her 26.54 at the 50 fly during the Dutch Nationals in Amersfoort. But she made history swimming eight world records between May and July 2000. Never before a swimmer had set so many Word Records in four different events (50 and 100 butterfly, 50 and 100 freestyle) in such a short time.
The greatest Dutch swimmer ever earned two gold medals at the Worldchampionships in Barcelona 2003 (50 fly and 50 free). At the Olympics in Athens she retained her title in 50 freestyle and had a silver medal in the 100 free and two bronze medals in the 100 fly and as a member of the Dutch 400 metres freestyle relayteam.
In Holland she the best Olympic athlete ever with 4 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals.
In Sydney she ruled her events winning the 100 fly, and 50 and 100 freestyle, bettering her World Records once again. She also anchored the Dutch team to a silver medal at the 4x100 freestyle relay and became the most successful female swimmer at the Olympic Games, equaling the success of Rie Mastenbroek who ruled the Games in Berlin.
Swimming World chose De Bruijn as the best swimmer of 2000.
The career of De Bruijn shows many ups and an occasional down. In 1996 she could go to the Olympics in Atlanta, but decided to watch the Games at home on tv, because she wasn’t motivated enough. After the Olympics, she decided to go to the USA where she met coach Paul Bergen. He was the right coach for her, Bergen made her the international star she is today.
A gold medal at the World Championships in long course, was the only thing missing for Inge de Bruijn. After an extensive time off, she started training again in February 2001. She still ruled the pool and won the 50 and 100 freestyle and 50 butterfly in Fukuoka.
Until 2002, she tapered for big meets with the Philips team of Jacco Verhaeren in Eindhoven. But in that year, her motivational problems forced them to end their cooperation. She was on her own again after Bergen also decided to split with her. The critics told her not to go to Barcelona, but she was determined to show she was still the best swimmer of the world. During the World Championships in 2003, she won both the 50 butterfly and the 50 freestyle.
She returned to the hard regime of Paul Bergen to prepare for the Athens Olympics in October 2003. Those months became the toughest in her career, but Inky was back at the Amsterdam Swim Cup in April where she clocked 54.09 at the 100 freestyle, her fastest time since Sydney.
Records World record Long Course
50 free 0.24.13 (22.09.2000 Sydney)
100 fly 0.56.61 (17.09.2000 Sydney) European record Long Course
50 free 0.24.13 (22.09.2000 Sydney)
100 free 0.53.77 (20.09.2000 Sydney)
100 fly 0.56.61 (17.09.2000 Sydney)
Long Course
50 free 0.24.82 (Braz.Winterkampioenschappen 2000 Rio de Janeiro)
100 free 0.53.37 (OS 2000 Athene)
100 fly 0.58.69 (Braz.Winterkampioenschappen 2000 Rio de Janeiro)
Best times
50
backstroke
(25 m SC)
0.29.03
1998 NK Sprint Emmen
100
butterfly
(25 m SC)
0.57.55
2001 NK Alphen a/d Rijn
200
butterfly
(25 m SC)
2.17.05
1993
50
butterfly
(25 m SC)
0.26.09
1998 EK Sheffield
100
freestyle
(25 m SC)
0.52.65
2001 EK Antwerpen
50
freestyle
(25 m SC)
0.23.89
2001 EK Antwerpen
50
backstroke
(50 m LC)
0.29.67
1999 NK 1999
100
butterfly
(50 m LC)
0.56.61
2000 OS Sydney
50
butterfly
(50 m LC)
0.25.64
2000 Speedo Super Grand Prix Sheffield
100
freestyle
(50 m LC)
0.53.77
2000 OS Sydney
200
freestyle
(50 m LC)
2.02.76
1999 NK 1999
50
freestyle
(50 m LC)
0.24.13
2000 OS Sydney
Progression (LC)
100 fly
50 free
100 free
1983
1.23.46
-
-
1984
-
-
-
1985
-
-
-
1986
1.09.08
-
1.01.71
1987
1.04.45
0.26.67
0.58.88
1988
1.03.04
0.26.56
1.01.29
1989
1.03.30
0.26.76
0.58.98
1990
1.00.57
0.26.41
0.56.60
1991
1.00.94
0.25.84
0.56.58
1992
1.01.02
0.25.70
0.56.60
1993
1.00.21
0.25.86
0.56.99
1994
1.01.14
0.26.00
0.57.88
1995
1.01.26
0.25.95
0.58.10
1996
1.04.59
0.26.43
-
1997
1.00.64
0.26.67
0.56.69
1998
0.59.28
0.25.01
0.55.62
1999
0.58.49
0.24.84
0.54.79
2000
0.56.61
0.24.13
0.53.77
2001
0.58.38
0.24.45
0.54.18
2002
0.58.85
0.24.99
0.55.27
2003
-
0.24.47
0.55.97
2004
0.57.50
0.24.56
0.54.06
Other information
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