PHOENIX, Dec. 12. AUSTRALIA'S Ian Thorpe and Holland\u2019s Inge De Bruijn were named male and female "World Swimmers of the Year" by Swimming World<\/i> magazine, in the December issue on newsstands today. Swimming World<\/i> is the magazine of record in the sport of swimming.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Thorpe, a unanimous selection this year, won the coveted award in 1998 and \u201999, relinquishing the honor to Holland\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Thorpe beat out fellow Australian, Grant Hackett, who finished second, and the USA\u2019s Michael Phelps, who was third in the poll of Swimming World<\/i>\u2019s editorial staff, foreign correspondents and other leading swimming writers around the world. De Bruijn won over Ukraine\u2019s Yana Klochkova and Germany\u2019s Hannah Stockbauer.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The 2001 European Swimmers of the Year were De Bruijn and Russia\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
PAST WORLD SWIMMERS OF THE YEAR<\/b>
\n2000_Inge De Bruijn, NED and Pieter van den Hoogenband, NED
\n1999_Penny Heyns, RSA and Ian Thorpe, AUS
\n1998_Jenny Thompson, USA and Ian Thorpe, AUS
\n1997_Claudia Poll, CRC and Michael Klim, Aus
\n1996_Penny Heyns, RSA and Denis Pankratov, RUS
\n1995_Kristina Egerszegi, HUN and Denis Pankratov, RUS
\n1994_Samantha Riley, AUS and Kieren Perkins, AUS
\n1993_Franziska Van Almsick, GER and Karoly Guttler, HUN
\n1992_Kristina Egerszegi, HUN and Egveni Sadovyi, URS
\n1991_Kristina Egerszegi, HUN and Tamas Darnyi, HUN
\n1990_Janet Evans, USA and Mike Barrowman, USA
\n1989_Janet Evans, USA and Mike Barrowman, USA
\n1988_Kristin Otto, GDR and Matt Biondi, USA
\n1987_Janet Evans, USA and Tamas Darnyi, HUN
\n1986_Kristin Otto, GDR and Matt Biondi, USA
\n1985_Mary T. Meagher, USA and Michael Gross, FRG
\n1984_Kristin Otto, GDR and Alex Baumann, CAN
\n1983_Ute Geweniger, GDR and Rick Carey, USA
\n1982_Petra Schneider, GDR and Vladimir Salnikov, URS
\n1981_Mary T. Meagher, USA and Alex Baumann, CAN
\n1980_Petra Schneider, GDR and Rowdy Gaines, USA <\/p>\n
PAST AMERICAN SWIMMERS OF THE YEAR<\/b>
\n2000_Brooke Bennett and Tom Dolan\/Lenny Krayzelburg
\n1999_Jenny Thompson and Lenny Krayzelburg
\n1998_Jenny Thompson and Lenny Krayzelburg
\n1997_Kristine Quance and Lenny Krayzelburg
\n1996_Amy Van Dyken and the men's 400 meter medley relay team
\n1995_Amy Van Dyken and Tom Dolan
\n1994_Allison Wagner and Tom Dolan
\n1993_Jenny Thompson and Eric Namesnik
\n1992_Summer Sanders and Mike Barrowman
\n1991_Janet Evans and Mike Barrowman
\n1990_Janet Evans and Mike Barrowman
\n1989_Janet Evans and Mike Barrowman
\n1988_Janet Evans and Matt Biondi
\n1987_Janet Evans and Dave Wharton
\n1986_Betsy Mitchell and Matt Biondi
\n1985_Mary T. Meagher and Matt Biondi
\n1984_Tracy Caulkins and Pablo Morales
\n1983_Tiffany Cohen and Rick Carey
\n1982_Tracy Caulkins and Steve Lundquist
\n1981_Tracy Caulkins and Craig Beardsley
\n1980_Tracy Caulkins and Mike Bruner <\/p>\n
PAST EUROPEAN SWIMMERS OF THE YEAR<\/b>
\n2000_Inge de Bruijn, NED and Pieter van den Hoogenband, NED
\n1999_Inge de Bruijn, NED and Pieter van den Hoogenband, NED
\n1998_Agnes Kovacs, HUN and Denis Silantiev, UKR
\n1997_Agnes Kovacs, HUN and Emiliano Brembilla, ITA
\n1996_Michele Smith, IRL and Denis Pankratov, RUS
\n1995_Kristina Egerszegi, HUN and Denis Pankratov, RUS
\n1994_Franziska van Almsick, GER and Alex Popov, RUS
\n1993_Franziska van Almsick, GER and Karoly Guttler, HUN
\n1992_Kristina Egerszegi, HUN and Egveni Sadovyi, URS
\n1991_Kristina Egerszegi, HUN and Tamas Darnyi, HUN
\n1990_Kristina Egerszegi, HUN and Adrian Moorhouse, GBR
\n1989_Anke Mohring, GDR and Giorgio Lamberti, ITA
\n1988_Kristin Otto, GDR and Tamas Darnyi, HUN
\n1987_Silke Horner, GDR and Tamas Darnyi, HUN
\n1986_Kristin Otto, GDR and Michael Gross, FRG
\n1985_Silke Horner, GDR and Michael Gross, FRG
\n1984_Kristin Otto, GDR and Michael Gross, FRG
\n1983_Ute Geweniger, GDR and Michael Gross, FRG
\n1982_Cornelia Sirch, GDR and Michael Gross, FRG
\n1981_Ute Geweniger, GDR and Sandor Wladar, HUN
\n1980_Petra Schneider, GDR and Vladimir Salnikov, URS <\/p>\n
PAST PACIFIC RIM SWIMMERS OF THE YEAR<\/b>
\n2000_Susie O'Neill, AUS and Ian Thorpe, AUS
\n1999_Susie O'Neill, AUS and Ian Thorpe, AUS
\n1998_Susie O'Neill, AUS and Ian Thorpe, AUS
\n1997_Samantha Riley, AUS and Michael Klim, AUS
\n1996_Le Jingyi, CHN and Danyon Loader, NZL
\n1995_Susie O'Neill, AUS and Scott Miller, AUS<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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