Today marks the 26th anniversary of the first of 11 World records set by Inge de Bruijn (NED) in the year 2000:

The May 20, 2000 swim in Monte Carlo was the precursor to a bull run of records in Sheffield later in the month.

The first official world record holder in the event, with a 26.54 clocked on 18 June 1999 at Dutch nationals in Amersfoort, De Bruijn's standard gave way to two by Anna-Karin Kamerling, of Sweden, who timed in at 26.39 for there Swedish title in Halmstad on July 1, 1991, and then 26.29, in which she claimed the European title in Istanbul on the 27th of the same month.

The following spring, De Bruijn took a sledgehammer to the mark with a 25.83 in heats at the Monte Carlo round of the Mare Nostrum tour. By the time her 2000 season was done, a born-again De Bruijn had taken down global marks in the 50 'fly twice, the 100 'fly thrice, the 50 free four times, and the 100 free twice, for a total of 11 World records, the jewels in her crown Olympic golds in the 50 and 100m free and 100m butterfly at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, a World record set in each event, the freestyle semis where she posted her pioneering marks, the 100 'fly title claimed in a 56.61 still 24th all-time fastest.

This from our archive from material heading into Inky's SOS Hall of Fame profile as we build our pantheon of plaudits:

The Day De Bruijn Launched A Bull Run Of World Records En Route To Triple Olympic Gold

Between May 26 and May 28, 2000, the Dutch sprinter established four of the eight world records she set between May and July that year en route to triple gold at Sydney 2000. The generation-busting times she clocked late in her career stand the test of time

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

May 17-18:

When Susie O Flew Inside Mary T After Nearly 19 Years

Today marks the 26th anniversary of the moment Australian Susie O'Neill clocked 2:05.81 at Australian Championships and Olympic Trials in Sydney on May 17, 2000 to take down the generation-busting 2:05.96 global standard that had stood to the legendary Mary T. Meagher (USA) since August 13, 1981, a swim in Brown Deer that remains one of the most impactful of outstanding pioneering swims in the sport's history.

A Song Of Susie O’Neill

“You couldn’t ask for a nicer, more deserving person to break your record than Susie. I really admire her perseverance. She just missed it a few times but she kept working at it and finally did it.” - Mary T Meagher, when Susie O’Neill claimed the 200 ’fly WR after 19 Years

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

Almost 20 Year On: What The 200 ’Fly At Sydney 2000 Really Meant To Susie O’Neill

“I felt like this was my race, home crowd and to come second for me is failure.” - Susie O’Neill, 19 years after silver as defending 200m champion in the Sydney 2000 ’fly final

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

And, Mary T ...

A tribute, in material heading into Marry T. Meagher's SOS Hall of Fame profile as we build the library.

Mary T’s Opening 100 ’Fly WR At Dawn Of 22-Year Reign As The Queen Of Butterfly

Mary T. Meagher’s first 100m world record already made her an outlier, a once-in-generations athlete whose technical surface-skimming, seamless flowing skill and style, would take her to pioneering speeds that would stand the test of time for two decades.

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

The May 17-18 World records:

The Timeline in full, day by day throughout the year: