Van den Hoogenband targets Beijing as final event

MELBOURNE, Mar 22 (Reuters) Pieter van den Hoogenband expects next year's Beijing Olympics to be his last major event before he follows long-time rival Ian Thorpe into retirement.

The flying Dutchman has already won three Olympic titles and is hoping to crown his career by becoming the first man to claim the 100 metres freestyle at three different Summer Games.

But van den Hoogenband, who holds the world record for the distance at 47.84 seconds, said Beijing was quickly looming as his international farewell.

''After the Olympics I will take some time to ask myself, look in the mirror and ask if it's still possible... but it's only a very small chance that I will swim after Beijing,'' the 29-year-old told a news conference today.

Van den Hoogenband, who recently married, said not even the lure of winning an elusive world title would persuade him to swim on.

Despite being the fastest swimmer in history and an Olympic champion over 100m and 200m, van den Hoogenband has never won a world title, although he has been close.

In his three previous appearances at the world championships, in 1998, 2001 and 2003, he collected five silver and three bronze medals over 50m, 100m and 200m.

FINAL CHANCE He missed the 2005 world championships in Montreal but will get a final chance to end his drought at this month's championships in Melbourne.

''There is a very, very big chance that this will be my last world championships,'' he said.

''The world championships are very, very important, don't get me wrong, but the Olympics are a little bit more special.'' Van den Hoogenband said he considers the 200m to be his best chance of winning in Melbourne.

Thorpe beat him at the 2001 and 2003 championships and 2004 Olympics but he still faces the formidable opposition of Michael Phelps, who won the title in Montreal when Thorpe, who retired last November, and van den Hoogenband were both missing.

''I am really looking forward to it but Michael is the world champion so he is the one to beat,'' van den Hoogenband said.

''I don't know what to expect for the 100m but you will have to swim very fast to make the final. It's going to be a spectacular event.'' ''I have a bigger chance at the 200m than the 100m. In the 100m there are a lot more good swimmers that have a chance of winning.'' REUTERS SAM VV1839