Swimming: Dutch Dolphin's fierce resolve

By PETER JESSUP

Inge de Bruijn is tired of the drug slur that follows her because she's broken world records. She can't do anything about it, she knows.

But it's why she happily meets reporters to tell them of the physical punishment she puts herself through. It's another explanation of why she's so good.

De Bruijn, 27, was a sprint finalist at Barcelona at age 16 then dropped out of the sport. She says now that watching Atlanta on television was an inspiration, that she knew she should be there, that she had the genes given a father who represented the Netherlands at water polo and a mother who was an 800m swimmer.

Then began an incredible comeback, from 62nd in the world in 1996 to No 1 and world record holder now in the 50m freestyle at 24.39s, in the 100m free at 53.80s, in the 50m butterfly at 25.64s and the 100m fly at 56.69s.

Her coach and boyfriend Jacco Verhaeren, employed by the swimming foundation her parents have set up to lift Dutch results in the sport, said yesterday he expected "Inky" to win three golds, especially if she gets her first on the first and second days' competition in the 100m butterfly - her best event. "I'm sure if she gets the 100m fly, with a gold medal in your pocket it makes a big difference. She will relax."

Of her times, Verhaeren said "Everyone thought 56.69 [for the 100m fly] was incredible but now others are swimming faster too. I think Pieter van den Hoogenband beating Alexander Popov at the European champs showed everyone that anyone can be beaten and it has lifted a lot of swimmers up."

De Bruijn spends half her time training with United States coach Paul Bergen in Beaverton, Oregon, and the other half with Verhaeren in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Bergen thrashes her physically, Verhaeren works on her technique.

De Bruijn, who eats around a kilo of cheese every day but weighs only 55kg, spends most of her training time cycling, running, pushing weights, doing aerobics and martial arts. She hauls herself up a gym rope without using her legs, drops to do sit-ups and press-ups, then does the rope trick again and again. When she swims in basic training, it's with shoes on to increase the drag.

She set her records while training hard. Most records are broken by athletes who have tapered off, aiming to peak. So de Bruijn, having done that, is a good bet to spoil Aussie Susie O'Neill's party.

O'Neill has called her world record times "pretty suss" and yesterday the Dutch dolphin responded by saying she might step up to the longer distances O'Neill swims just to take something from her and prove her wrong.

De Bruijn says she has been drug-tested nine times this year so people should leave the issue alone and focus on the effort, which is the only way to win.

"I'm feeling great, I can't wait to start," she said, flashing long silver-painted nails. She has a new set done ahead of each big meet, but has the same competition suit all the time and a kickboard kept since 1989 as comforters. At 1.74m, and with long blonde hair and long eye lashes, de Bruijn is a darling for photographers.

Next to other members of the Dutch swim team, her musculature stands out. And when she swims her advantage in technique is undeniable. She can stroke one-armed and look like she's gliding.

There is big pressure on de Bruijn from back home, as there is on 22-year-old van den Hoogenband to repeat over Popov and Michael Klim. "I know there is pressure but I perform well that way. I had an Olympics in 1992 and then I lost focus, I treat that as a bad experience now. This time I am older and I am focused, I want to win a medal and I want to break records."

Verhaeren said there were factors for and against records. On the plus side, Australia was a swimming nation and there would be plenty of crowd support, and the pool had produced good times in lead-up events. Against that, few world records are broken at the Olympics.

"I think that's something to do with the pressure and the tactics. We're here to swim for medals. Not records."