Inge de Bruijn
Encyclopedia
Inge de Bruijn is a Dutch
former swimmer. She was a four-time Olympic
champion and a former world record holder.
, South Holland
, and tried several sports before settling with swimming.
team, with which she would go on to win the gold medal at the European LC Championships in August of that year.
The following year, de Bruijn made her Olympic
debut at the 1992 Summer Olympics
, and finished 8th in the 100 m and 4×100 m freestyle events. She did not compete at the 1996 Summer Olympics
. In 1999, she won the 50 m freestyle
at the European Championships. The following year, after having swum several 50 m freestyle world records
, she competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics
in Sydney, Australia. She won the 50 and 100 m freestyle, and the 100 m butterfly
, setting world records in all three events. In addition, she won a silver medal with the 4×100 m freestyle relay team. Her nickname became "Invincible Inky".
She was named by Swimming World
as the "Female World Swimmer of the Year" in both 2000 and 2001. She won titles in three events at the 2001 World Championships. At the 2003 World Championships, de Bruijn successfully defended her 50 m freestyle and butterfly titles. At the 2004 Summer Olympics
in Athens
she defended her gold medal in the 50 m free, as well as taking silver in the 100 m free, and two bronze: one in the 100 m butterfly and another with the rest of the Dutch women's swim team in the 4×100 m relay.
With an Olympic medal collection of four gold, two silver and two bronze medals, she is the most successful Dutch Olympian of all time.
In March 2007, de Bruijn announced her retirement from competitive swimming.
.
She was the face for Dutch lingerie brand Sapph, along with kickboxer Remy Bonjasky
, the face for the men's line of the brand.
. She has never failed a drug test or been clearly connected to illegal substances.
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
former swimmer. She was a four-time Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
champion and a former world record holder.
Biography
De Bruijn was born in BarendrechtBarendrecht
Barendrecht is a town in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. The municipality had a population of 43,104 in 2007, and covers an area of 21.72 km² of which 1.45 km² is water....
, South Holland
South Holland
South Holland is a province situated on the North Sea in the western part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is The Hague and its largest city is Rotterdam.South Holland is one of the most densely populated and industrialised areas in the world...
, and tried several sports before settling with swimming.
Swimming career
De Bruijn debuted at the World Aquatics Championships in January 1991, winning a bronze medal with the 4×100 m relayRelay race
During a relay race, members of a team take turns running, orienteering, swimming, cross-country skiing, biathlon, or ice skating parts of a circuit or performing a certain action. Relay races take the form of professional races and amateur games...
team, with which she would go on to win the gold medal at the European LC Championships in August of that year.
The following year, de Bruijn made her Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
debut at the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
, and finished 8th in the 100 m and 4×100 m freestyle events. She did not compete at the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
. In 1999, she won the 50 m freestyle
Freestyle swimming
Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...
at the European Championships. The following year, after having swum several 50 m freestyle world records
World record progression 50 metres freestyle
The first world record in the men's 50 metres freestyle in long course swimming was recognised by the International Swimming Federation in 1976...
, she competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
in Sydney, Australia. She won the 50 and 100 m freestyle, and the 100 m butterfly
Butterfly stroke
The butterfly is a swimming stroke swum on the breast, with both arms moving simultaneously. The butterfly kick was developed separately, and is also known as the "dolphin kick"...
, setting world records in all three events. In addition, she won a silver medal with the 4×100 m freestyle relay team. Her nickname became "Invincible Inky".
She was named by Swimming World
Swimming World magazine
Swimming World Magazine is an American-based monthly swimming magazine, that was first published in a magazine format as Junior Swimmer in January of 1960...
as the "Female World Swimmer of the Year" in both 2000 and 2001. She won titles in three events at the 2001 World Championships. At the 2003 World Championships, de Bruijn successfully defended her 50 m freestyle and butterfly titles. At the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
she defended her gold medal in the 50 m free, as well as taking silver in the 100 m free, and two bronze: one in the 100 m butterfly and another with the rest of the Dutch women's swim team in the 4×100 m relay.
With an Olympic medal collection of four gold, two silver and two bronze medals, she is the most successful Dutch Olympian of all time.
In March 2007, de Bruijn announced her retirement from competitive swimming.
Post-swimming career
De Bruijn resides in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, and previously trained in Portland, OregonPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
.
She was the face for Dutch lingerie brand Sapph, along with kickboxer Remy Bonjasky
Remy Bonjasky
Remy "The Flying Gentleman" Bonjasky is a Dutch super heavyweight kickboxer of Surinamese descent. He is a three-time K-1 World Grand Prix champion, who has won the title in 2003, 2004, and 2008...
, the face for the men's line of the brand.
Doping controversy
De Bruijn was mentioned in connection with performance-enhancing drugs during the Sydney Olympics, along with fellow Dutch swimmer Pieter van den HoogenbandPieter van den Hoogenband
Pieter Cornelis Ruud Martijn van den Hoogenband is a Dutch former swimmer and a triple Olympic champion.-Personal life:...
. She has never failed a drug test or been clearly connected to illegal substances.
See also
- List of Dutch records in swimming
- List of multiple Olympic gold medalists at a single Games
- List of multiple Olympic gold medalists