EINDHOVEN, Netherlands — Three-time Olympic champion Pieter van den Hoogenband was eliminated from the 200-meter freestyle in heats today at the European swimming championships, and illness could keep out of the rest of the competition.

Van den Hoogenband won the 200 freestyle at the Sydney Games and is a two-time Olympic winner over 100 meters, but he came into these championships saying he was only 80 percent fit as he builds toward his final Olympics in Beijing.

"This is a terrible disappointment here at my home pool," Van den Hoogenband said.

Netherlands coach Jacco Verhaeren said Van den Hoogenband will not swim again unless he is fit.

"Until he is completely better, he stays out of the water," Verhaeren said.

Massimiliano Rosolino, who won two silver medals on the opening day of competition yesterday, qualified fastest and beat Van den Hoogenband in a head-to-head battle in the final heat.

The Italian cruised past him on the third lap to finish in 1 minute 47.85 seconds. Van den Hoogenband ended a distant 20th in 1:49.99.

Paul Biedermann of Germany qualified second in 1:47.88, followed by Amaury Leveaux of France in 1:48.12.

In the heats of the women's 100 freestyle, Marleen Veldhuis, who anchored the Dutch relay victory and holds the short course world record over 50 meters, qualified fastest in 53.77 while two other relay team members, Ranomi Kromowidjojo and Inge Dekker, also won their heats.

In other heats, Mirna Jukic of Austria was fastest in the women's 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:08.13 and defending champion Laszlo Cseh of Hungary qualified fastest in the men's 200 individual medley in 1:59.08.

In the men's 800 freestyle, Gergo Kis of Hungary was quickest in 7:57.33, ahead of Marcos Rivera Miranda of Spain and Federico Colbertaldo of Italy.