Inge de Bruijn

Inge de Bruijn (born August 24, 1973) is a Dutch swimmer, and a four-time Olympic champion.

Related Topics:
August 24 - 1973 - Dutch - Olympic

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Born in Barendrecht, De Bruijn tried several sports before settling with swimming. She debuted at the World Championships in 1991, winning a bronze medal with the 4 x 100 m relay team, with which she had already won a gold medal at European Championships.

Related Topics:
Barendrecht - 1991 - Relay - Gold medal

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The following year, De Bruijn made her Olympic debut at the 1992 Summer Olympics, and finished 8th in the 100 m and 4 x 100 m freestyle events. She continued to swim with the best in the next years, but was not motivated enough to compete in the 1996 Summer Olympics, and stayed home.

Related Topics:
1992 Summer Olympics - 1996 Summer Olympics

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She immediately regretted this decision, and decided to go to the United States to train. Her return was crowned in 1999, when she won the 50 m freestyle at the World Championships.

Related Topics:
United States - 1999 - Freestyle

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The following year, after having swam several 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 x 100 m freestyle relay team. Her nickname became Invincible Inky.

Related Topics:
World Record - 2000 Summer Olympics - Sydney - Australia - Butterfly

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She confirmed her status when she won titles in the three same events at the 2001 World Championships, and the 50m freestyle at the 2003 World Championships.

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At the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens she upheld her gold medal in the 50m free, as well as taking silver in the 100m free, and two bronze: one in the 100m butterfly and another with the rest of the Dutch women's swim team in the 4x100m relay.

Related Topics:
2004 Summer Olympic Games - Athens

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De Bruijn resides in Eindhoven, the Netherlands but also trains in Portland, Oregon in the United States part of the year.

Related Topics:
Eindhoven - The Netherlands - Portland, Oregon - United States

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