Thorpe, De Bruijn Named World Swimmers of the Year

PHOENIX, Dec. 12. AUSTRALIA'S Ian Thorpe and Holland’s Inge De Bruijn were named male and female "World Swimmers of the Year" by Swimming World magazine, in the December issue on newsstands today. Swimming World is the magazine of record in the sport of swimming.

It was the third time the 19 year-old Thorpe received the honor in the past four years. For De Bruijn, it was her second consecutive "World Swimmer" honor.

Thorpe, a unanimous selection this year, won the coveted award in 1998 and ’99, relinquishing the honor to Holland’s Pieter Van Den Hoogenband last year. A triple Olympic gold medalist in Sydney last year, Thorpe won an unprecedented six gold medals at this year’s World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, setting world records in the 200, 400, 800 meter freestyle events as well as the 4 x 200m freestyle relay.

De Bruijn, 28, who won three individual gold medals in Sydney and set 11 world marks in 2000, was a triple gold medalist in Fukuoka this year, winning the 50 and 100 meter freestyle and 50 meter butterfly.

Thorpe beat out fellow Australian, Grant Hackett, who finished second, and the USA’s Michael Phelps, who was third in the poll of Swimming World’s editorial staff, foreign correspondents and other leading swimming writers around the world. De Bruijn won over Ukraine’s Yana Klochkova and Germany’s Hannah Stockbauer.

Michael Phelps, 16, and Natalie Coughlin, 19, were named American Swimmers of the Year, the first time since 1994 that two teenagers were accorded that honor. Last March, Phelps became, at 15, the youngest American male ever to set a swimming world record when he broke the global mark in the 200m butterfly at the US National Championships in Austin. He followed up by lowering that record at the World Championships in July.

Coughlin was nothing short of phenomenal in 2001, setting American records in the 100 yard and meter backstroke, and the 200 yard backstroke, and winning gold at the World Championships. Earlier this month, she obliterated the world short course records for 100 and 200 meters backstroke.

The 2001 European Swimmers of the Year were De Bruijn and Russia’s Roman Sludnov, a unanimous choice for the honor. Sludnov lowered the world record in the 100m breaststroke three times in 2001, becoming the first man ever to crack the one minute barrier; he also won gold in the event at the World Championships.

Thorpe and Aussie teammate Petria Thomas won Pacific Rim Swimmer of the Year titles. Thomas won individual gold in the 100 and 200m fly at the World Championships, adding a third gold in the medley relay.

PAST WORLD SWIMMERS OF THE YEAR
2000_Inge De Bruijn, NED and Pieter van den Hoogenband, NED
1999_Penny Heyns, RSA and Ian Thorpe, AUS
1998_Jenny Thompson, USA and Ian Thorpe, AUS
1997_Claudia Poll, CRC and Michael Klim, Aus
1996_Penny Heyns, RSA and Denis Pankratov, RUS
1995_Kristina Egerszegi, HUN and Denis Pankratov, RUS
1994_Samantha Riley, AUS and Kieren Perkins, AUS
1993_Franziska Van Almsick, GER and Karoly Guttler, HUN
1992_Kristina Egerszegi, HUN and Egveni Sadovyi, URS
1991_Kristina Egerszegi, HUN and Tamas Darnyi, HUN
1990_Janet Evans, USA and Mike Barrowman, USA
1989_Janet Evans, USA and Mike Barrowman, USA
1988_Kristin Otto, GDR and Matt Biondi, USA
1987_Janet Evans, USA and Tamas Darnyi, HUN
1986_Kristin Otto, GDR and Matt Biondi, USA
1985_Mary T. Meagher, USA and Michael Gross, FRG
1984_Kristin Otto, GDR and Alex Baumann, CAN
1983_Ute Geweniger, GDR and Rick Carey, USA
1982_Petra Schneider, GDR and Vladimir Salnikov, URS
1981_Mary T. Meagher, USA and Alex Baumann, CAN
1980_Petra Schneider, GDR and Rowdy Gaines, USA

PAST AMERICAN SWIMMERS OF THE YEAR
2000_Brooke Bennett and Tom Dolan/Lenny Krayzelburg
1999_Jenny Thompson and Lenny Krayzelburg
1998_Jenny Thompson and Lenny Krayzelburg
1997_Kristine Quance and Lenny Krayzelburg
1996_Amy Van Dyken and the men's 400 meter medley relay team
1995_Amy Van Dyken and Tom Dolan
1994_Allison Wagner and Tom Dolan
1993_Jenny Thompson and Eric Namesnik
1992_Summer Sanders and Mike Barrowman
1991_Janet Evans and Mike Barrowman
1990_Janet Evans and Mike Barrowman
1989_Janet Evans and Mike Barrowman
1988_Janet Evans and Matt Biondi
1987_Janet Evans and Dave Wharton
1986_Betsy Mitchell and Matt Biondi
1985_Mary T. Meagher and Matt Biondi
1984_Tracy Caulkins and Pablo Morales
1983_Tiffany Cohen and Rick Carey
1982_Tracy Caulkins and Steve Lundquist
1981_Tracy Caulkins and Craig Beardsley
1980_Tracy Caulkins and Mike Bruner

PAST EUROPEAN SWIMMERS OF THE YEAR
2000_Inge de Bruijn, NED and Pieter van den Hoogenband, NED
1999_Inge de Bruijn, NED and Pieter van den Hoogenband, NED
1998_Agnes Kovacs, HUN and Denis Silantiev, UKR
1997_Agnes Kovacs, HUN and Emiliano Brembilla, ITA
1996_Michele Smith, IRL and Denis Pankratov, RUS
1995_Kristina Egerszegi, HUN and Denis Pankratov, RUS
1994_Franziska van Almsick, GER and Alex Popov, RUS
1993_Franziska van Almsick, GER and Karoly Guttler, HUN
1992_Kristina Egerszegi, HUN and Egveni Sadovyi, URS
1991_Kristina Egerszegi, HUN and Tamas Darnyi, HUN
1990_Kristina Egerszegi, HUN and Adrian Moorhouse, GBR
1989_Anke Mohring, GDR and Giorgio Lamberti, ITA
1988_Kristin Otto, GDR and Tamas Darnyi, HUN
1987_Silke Horner, GDR and Tamas Darnyi, HUN
1986_Kristin Otto, GDR and Michael Gross, FRG
1985_Silke Horner, GDR and Michael Gross, FRG
1984_Kristin Otto, GDR and Michael Gross, FRG
1983_Ute Geweniger, GDR and Michael Gross, FRG
1982_Cornelia Sirch, GDR and Michael Gross, FRG
1981_Ute Geweniger, GDR and Sandor Wladar, HUN
1980_Petra Schneider, GDR and Vladimir Salnikov, URS

PAST PACIFIC RIM SWIMMERS OF THE YEAR
2000_Susie O'Neill, AUS and Ian Thorpe, AUS
1999_Susie O'Neill, AUS and Ian Thorpe, AUS
1998_Susie O'Neill, AUS and Ian Thorpe, AUS
1997_Samantha Riley, AUS and Michael Klim, AUS
1996_Le Jingyi, CHN and Danyon Loader, NZL
1995_Susie O'Neill, AUS and Scott Miller, AUS

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