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Epic Swims: Ian Thorpe Sets World Record in 200m Freestyle, Fukoka 2001

Australian icon Ian Thorpe and Dutch icon Pieter van den Hoogenband had one of the greatest rivalries in swimming. Both of the swimmers have long been retired now, but their legacy in the sport lives on.

In 2017, the pair reunited in Sydney a few days before the anniversary of one of their most epic races at the 2000 Olympics.

Thorpe, who is the most decorated Australian Olympian with a total of five gold medals among nine total, won the 400 freestyle in Sydney. This victory made him a strong contender for the gold in the 200 freestyle. But in that later 200 free, he was beaten by van den Hoogenband in the final and had to settle for silver in that event.

The rivalry between these two swimming icons was far from over, however. At the 2001 World Championships in Fukoka, Japan, they again went head-to-head in the 200 free.

Van den Hoogenband was the top seed out of the semifinals. Thorpe qualified second.

In the final, they wasted no time in breaking away from the rest of the field, going stroke for stroke over the first 150 meters. But Thorpe found a second wind, passing van den Hoogenband over the final 50 to grab the win.

Thorpe’s winning time of 1:44.06 took over half a second off of his own world record of 1:44.69, set at 2001 Nationals. Van den Hoogenband finished in second place in 1:45.81, while American Klete Keller earned the bronze in 1:47.10.

In the “race of the century” two years later, the pair battled it out again in the 200 free at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, along with American Michael Phelps. Thorpe was victorious, followed by van den Hoogenband and Phelps.

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Emily
3 years ago

wow he is so good at swimming

Elizabeth Levy
4 years ago

Fixed it. Thanks!

Suit
4 years ago

First real “tech” suit swim- worn to perfection.

Bruh
4 years ago

the remarkable thing is phelps always praised thorpe for his unbelievable underwaters. And while they were spectacular for the time, the sport has progressed so much they would not be at an elite level in todays sport. Fascinating to think about what today’s athletes would be if they followed the trends of tomorrow

Joe
Reply to  Bruh
4 years ago

He has the streamlining of an age grouper yet still surfaces half a body length ahead of the rest of the field! Amazing.

Walter
Reply to  Joe
4 years ago

He WAS still an age grouper.

Xman
Reply to  Joe
4 years ago

I wonder if he ever did the hand together streamline and then just got too muscular and lost the flexibility for it, or if he just never did one..

USAUSAUSA
Reply to  Bruh
4 years ago

It’s amazing how sloppy their turns are – especially pvdh. Wild to see how far swimming has come in 20 years.

Crawler
4 years ago

What is striking to me is how powerful Thorpe is to keep a very high stroke rate with a relaxed recovery and an accelerating push and finish

Sam
4 years ago

Thorpe is the Usain Bolt of the water, long strokes, at a very high rate, just unbeatable.

Xman
4 years ago

That flutter kick is unreal.

YaYeeter
4 years ago

Loving the sportsmanship!

Robbos
Reply to  YaYeeter
4 years ago

Yes the sportsmanship between Thorpe & VHB was huge, they had huge respect for each other. Reminds me of Dressel & Chalmers.

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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