Van den Hoogenband drops 200m freestyle from Beijing programme

Olympic 100 metres freestyle champion Pieter van den Hoogenband is to drop the 200m from his Beijing programme to concentrate on winning the 100 title for the third successive time.

Van den Hoogenband, who won the title in Sydney and Athens, is competing with Australian Grant Hackett to become the first male swimmer to win three successive Olympic titles in the same event.

Hackett is seeking a hat-trick of 1,500m freestyle titles.

Van den Hoogenband dropped the 200m freestyle because the final on August 12 is just hours before qualifying for the 100m freestyle begins, Dutch daily De Telegraaf reported yesterday.

The final for the 100m freestyle is on August 14, while the 1,500m final is on August 17.

"My love for the 100 freestyle is that big that unfortunately I am forced to adjust my ambitions," he was quoted as saying in the newspaper. "I am no longer the young star of Sydney 2000. I am someone in his 30s, who has to use his resources sparingly.

"I know I should be able to get a medal in the 200m freestyle as except for (Michael) Phelps I measure up to everyone else."

Van den Hoogenband, who completed the 100m-200m freestyle double at Sydney, said he would also swim the 4x100m freestyle relay in Beijing.