Name: Pieter van den Hoogenband
Residence: Achel, België
Date of birth: 14 maart 1978
Height: 1.93 m.
Weight: 83 kg
Profession: zwemmer
Team: PSV, Eindhoven
Coach: Jacco Verhaeren
Swimming history During the Olympics in Atlanta, Pieter van den Hoogenband placed second in the 200 freestyle, only 0,1 second from a medal. Also on the 100 freestyle he became fourth. But it was an early warning sign from Hoogie.
He gained his first medal in Perth 1998, where he lead the 200 freestyle, but had to let go Michael Klim and Massi Rosolino in the last few meters.
1999 became the ‘golden’ year for Van den Hoogenband. He surprised the world beating Alex Popov on the 100 freestyle during the European Championships in Istanbul. Not only did he win the 100 freestyle, but also the 50 and 200, and the 50 butterfly. He anchored the 4x100 medley and the 4x100 freestyle relay to gold, only missing first place in the 4x200 because of a DQ.
In Sydney Van den Hoogenband became the star of the Olympics, winning the 100 freestyle over tsar Alex Popov and beating Ian Thorpe in a great battle on the 200, setting World Records in both events. He also anchored the 4x200 freestyle to a bronze medal and bronzed his 50 freestyle.
During the World Championships in 2001 and 2003, he failed to place first in an event, but collected six silver and one bronze medal.
But in the relays at those Championships, his splits were unequalled, clocking 47.02 in Fukuoka on the 100 freestyle and 46.70 in Barcelona.
Records European record Short Course
200 free 1.41.89 (14.12.2003 Dublin)
Long Course
200 free 1.44.89 (02.08.2002 Berlijn)
Dutch record Short Course
100 free 46.81 (13.12.2003 Dublin)
200 free 1.41.89 (14.12.2003 Dublin)
400 free 3.43.44 (22.11.2002 New York)
