Mitja Zastrow

Mitja Kolia Zastrow (born March 7, 1977) is a Dutch swimmer and an Olympic medalist.

Related Topics:
March 7 - 1977 - Dutch - Swimmer - Olympic

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Originally from Germany, Mitja was born and raised in Wuppertal, near Düsseldorf. He became a naturalized Dutch citizen in July 2003, after a conflict with the German Swimming Association. He currently trains at PSV Eindhoven in Eindhoven, Netherlands, with his coach, Torsten Petsch.

Related Topics:
Germany - Wuppertal - Düsseldorf - German Swimming Association - PSV Eindhoven - Eindhoven - Netherlands

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Mitja's swimming career has been filled with a series of unfortunate injuries. In 2001, despite being the 100 meter freestyle champion in Germany, a hand injury kept him from attending the FINA World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.

Related Topics:
Freestyle - FINA - World Championships - Fukuoka

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In 2003, at the FINA World Championships in Barcelona, Spain, Mitja participated in his first World Championship as a Dutch citizen. However, due to a back injury, Mitja was unable to swim in most of the events that he had qualified for.

Related Topics:
FINA - World Championships - Barcelona - Spain

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Mitja qualified fifth out of one hundred Dutch swimmers to participate in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. Along with Pieter van den Hoogenband, Johan Kenkhuis, and Klaas-Erik Zwering, he was a member of the Dutch 4x100 meter freestyle relay team, which won silver by clocking in at 3:14.36.

Related Topics:
2004 Summer Olympics - Athens - Greece - Pieter van den Hoogenband - Johan Kenkhuis - Klaas-Erik Zwering

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Mitja's specialty is actually the backstroke. He has been the Dutch record holder in the 50 meter backstroke since 2003.

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Mitja has a Chinese ideograph tattooed on his left shoulder. The character is "猴" and means "monkey."

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