Van den Hoogenband to miss meeting in Montreal in July

Dutch swimming great Pieter van den Hoogenband will miss the Montreal world championships in July while he recovers from a hernia operation.

"I have decided not to go to the world championships in July," he wrote in his column in Dutch daily Algemeen Dagblad yesterday.

"Doctors told me I would be taking an irresponsible risk if I were to compete in that event after my hernia operation.

"The message is clear."

Van den Hoogenband is one of the greatest freestyle swimmers in Olympic history, winning the 100-200 metre double at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, setting world records in both events, and successfully defended his 100 title in Athens last year.

He was voted Dutch sportsman of the year in 2004.

"It will be the first time since the European Championships in Vienna in 1995 that I won't be there for an international championship," he added.

"I want to focus on the Olympics. In 2008 I want to win my fourth Olympic title. In China I want to be the first swimmer in history to win gold for the third consecutive time for the main prize, the 100 freestyle."

The flying Dutchman is the latest in a series of high-profile swimmers, including Australia's Ian Thorpe, to pull out of this year's world championships.