Born: 14 March 1978

Birthplace: Maastricht (Netherlands)

Nationality: Netherlands

Sport: Aquatics

ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Atlanta 1996

Sydney 2000

Athens 2004

AWARDS

Olympic medals:

Gold: 3

Silver: 2

Bronze: 2

Hoogie

Swimmer Pieter van den Hoogenband put together an unusual record at the long-course world championships, eventually winning seven silver medals and two bronze medals, but no gold. At the Olympics, on the other hand, he has been extremely successful. He swam in six events at the 1996 Olympics, placing fourth in the 100m and 200m freestyle events, but it was at the 2000 Sydney Games that he took charge. In the 200m freestyle van den Hoogenband broke Ian Thorpe's world record in the semifinals and then faced Thorpe himself in the final. The two were dead even until the last lap, when van den Hoogenband pulled ahead, tying the world record he had set the day before. The following evening, in the 4x200m freestyle relay, he swam the fastest relay leg in history to help the Dutch team earn bronze medals. Van den Hoogenband also broke the world record in the semifinals of the 100m freestyle and then won the final. Later in the Games, he added a bronze medal in the 50m freestyle and placed fourth in the medley relay. Competing in his third Olympics in Athens in 2004, van den Hoogenband swam the anchor leg in the 4x100m freestyle relay and moved the Dutch team from fourth place into second. The next day, he led the final of the 200m freestyle for most of the race until Ian Thorpe passed him just before the finish, as van den Hoogenband gained a second silver medal. In defense of his 100m title, he was only fifth at the halfway mark of the final, but then caught Roland Schoeman just at the end to win by about ten centimetres. Van den Hoogenband also placed seventeenth in the 50m free. His career record at the Olympics stands at three gold medals, two silver medals and two bronze medals.