Goodwill Games

07/10/2001

Dutch Swim Stars Set For Goodwill Games Splash

DUTCH superstars Pieter van den Hoogenband and Inge de Bruijn today announced they will compete in Brisbane as part of the European All Stars swimming team during the 2001 Goodwill Games.

The pair, currently in training in South Korea ahead of the World Championships, made the announcement as the Goodwill Games marked its 50-day countdown until kick-off on August 29.

They will join other great European swimmers including German backstroker Stev Theloke and Swedish butterfly champion Lars Frolander, in the men's team.

The Ukraine's double Olympic gold medallist and world record holder Yana Klochkova (individual medley), Slovakia's Martina Moravcova (free and fly) and Romania's dual Olympic medallist Beatrice Caslaru will join De Bruijn in the women's team.

The European All Stars will be up against tough competition when they battle it out for a total prize purse of $508,000 (USD) against Australia, the USA and a strong World All Stars team, from August 29 to September 3 at Brisbane's Chandler Aquatic Centre.

Goodwill Games President Mike Plant said the Games' unique dual-meet format would highlight the patriotic rivalries between the world's best swimmers.

``The unique team format will provide spectators the opportunity to witness the exciting match-ups between both the individual and the team,'' Mr Plant said.

Included in the World All Stars team is South African freestyle specialist Ryk Neethling (current Goodwill Games champion in 800m free) and Terence Parkin who took home silver in the 200m breastroke in Sydney last year.

Brazilians Gustavo Borges and Fernando Scherer, both Sydney medallists, also will compete in the men;s World All Star team.

Claudia Poll, who in 1996 became the first Costa Rican ever to win Olympic gold (200m free), will compete as part of the women's World All-Star team.

Goodwill Games organisers will announce the remaining world and European teams following the Swimming World Championships in Japan later this month, as will Australian Swimming and Swimming USA.

Media information:
Nikki Todd, 2001 Goodwill Games Brisbane
Ph: 07 3233 2045 (direct) / Mobile: 0408 011 204

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