13 August 2008

Swimmer Pieter van den Hoogenband has won a place in the 100 metres freestyle final in Beijing on Thursday with a new Dutch record of 0:47.68.

Van den Hoogenband hopes to create Olympic history by being the first swimmer to win gold in the 100 metre freestyle three times in a row.

Dutch judoka Edith Bosch has reached the semi-finals. She beat American Ronda Rousey in the quarter-finals. Dutch judoka Mark Huizinga was knocked out in the second round. He showed tremendous skill in the first round, beating reigning world champion Ilias Illadis.

Elisabeth Willeboordse won a judo bronze in the under 63-kilogram division. She won three matches in a row in extra time, the last against Cuban Driulis Gonzalez. Ayumi Tanimoto retained the women's title for Japan, beating the Frenchwoman Lucie Decosse. Other Dutch medal-winning judokas were Deborah Gravenstijn on Monday with a silver, and Ruben Houkes on Saturday with a bronze.

Cyclist Marianne Vos had a disappointing result in time trials, ending 14th, while Mirjam Melchers came in 18th.

The Dutch women's hockey team won their second game in Group A, beating South Korea 3-2. They now lead the group together with Australia and China, but only the best two teams will go through.

[Radio Netherlands / Expatica]

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