Record holder misses 100m freestyle heats

Two-time Olympic champion and world record holder Pieter van den Hoogenband missed the 100m freestyle heats yesterday at the European swimming championships because of illness.

The 100m freestyle had been one of the most anticipated races of the championships.

Van den Hoogenband had been expected to compete against world champion Filippo Magnini of Italy and short course world record holder Stefan Nystrand of Sweden.

Fabien Gilot led a French 1-2 in the heats, finishing in 48.51 seconds, ahead of Alain Bernard in 48.70. Nystrand was third in 48.88 and Magnini cruised into the semi-finals in 11th place.

Clearly weakened by a stomach bug, Van den Hoogenband was knocked out of the 200m freestyle in the heats earlier this week and was sent home to recover.

After the swimmer failed to appear on the blocks for the 100m, Netherlands team manager Aad van Groningen said Van den Hoogenband was recovering and still hoping to swim in relays.

Alena Alekseeva had the best time in the women's 200m breaststroke heats, clocking 2 minutes, 27.12 seconds.

Another Russian, Yuliya Efimova, was second-fastest ahead of Kirsty Balfour of Britain.