Erik de Bruin

Erik de Bruin (born 25 May 1963 in Hardinxveld-Giessendam, South Holland) is a retired Dutch discus thrower and shot putter.

De Bruin was Holland's leading discus thrower and shot putter in the 1980s and early 1990s.

He participated in the 1984 and 1988 Summer Olympics, reaching 8th places at the 1984 shot put, and 9th place at the 1988 discus throw event.

He was most successful in discus throw, winning silver medals at the 1989 Summer Universiade and 1990 European Championships, and a silver medal at the 1991 World Championships.

1990: European Championship – silver – 64,46 m 1991: World Championship – silver – 65,82 m

He held the Dutch national record in shot put from 1986 to 2005, and his 68.12 m discus throw record of 1 April 1991 still stands today.

De Bruin failed a sports drug test in 1993 but was cleared by the disciplinary committee of the Dutch Athletics Federation (KNAU).

The International Association of Athletics Federations did not accept the ruling and banned de Bruin for four years.

His wife's later book maintained that finances prevented de Bruin from appealing the conviction and ban fully to prove his innocence.

De Bruin married Irish swimmer Michelle Smith in 1996.

They live with their two children in Kells, Ireland, where Michelle practices as a barrister.

Michelle won four Olympic medals at the 1996 Summer Olympics while being trained by Erik; she was banned from competitive swimming by FINA in 1998.

Erik's younger sister Corrie de Bruin is a former Olympic discus thrower.