Inge de Bruijn

Did You Know?

• She was the face for Dutch lingerie brand Sapph, alongside kickboxer Remy Bonjasky.
• She appeared in a special episode of the Dutch naked dating reality programme Adam Zkt. Eva VIP.
• She previously trained in Portland, Oregon.

Swimming career

De Bruijn tried several sports before focusing on swimming. She debuted at the World Aquatics Championships in January 1991, earning a bronze medal in the 4×100 m relay, and won gold in the same event at the European LC Championships later that year. At the 1992 Summer Olympics, her first Olympic appearance, she placed eighth in the 100 m freestyle and the 4×100 m freestyle relay. 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 setting multiple 50 m freestyle world records, she competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, winning gold in the 50 m and 100 m freestyle and the 100 m butterfly, all with world records, and a silver medal in the 4×100 m freestyle relay. Her nickname became "Invincible Inky". Swimming World named her Female World Swimmer of the Year in 2000 and 2001.

She won three titles at the 2001 World Championships and defended her 50 m freestyle and butterfly titles at the 2003 World Championships. At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, she defended her 50 m freestyle gold, took silver in the 100 m freestyle, and bronze in the 100 m butterfly and the 4×100 m relay. This made her the oldest individual champion in Olympic swimming history, a record later surpassed by Anthony Ervin in 2016; her 2004 title remains the oldest female Olympic champion in swimming.

With four gold, two silver, and two bronze Olympic medals, she is the fourth most successful Dutch Olympian. Her combined nine individual titles from the Olympics and World Aquatics Championships were a record for female swimmers until Katie Ledecky won her tenth in 2016. De Bruijn announced her retirement from competitive swimming in March 2007.