EINDHOVEN, Netherlands (AFP) - Dutch swimming fans were stunned Wednesday when Olympic champion Pieter van den Hoogenband failed to qualify for the 200m freestyle final at the European swimming championships.

Hoogenband, nicknamed Hoogie or simply VDH, timed 1min 49.99sec as the favourite managed only the 20th best time to miss out on a top 16 placing which would have brought a place in the semi-finals.

"It's a catastrophe. I am very disappointed," said the champion.

"In all my long career, this had never happened to me," said the 30-year-old, who nonetheless said his fitness was not up to par in this Olympic warm-up and warned he might have to sit out the remainder of the tournament.

"Yesterday I could feel something was not quite right. But I didn't think I was going to be ill.

"Then, during the night, I woke up with a fever, indigestion and cramp. I am an athlete down to my fingertips and I wanted to race the 200m all the same.

"But after 115m it was all over. I don't know if I am going to swim these coming days. I'd like to help the relay team to qualify for Beijing but I will only swim if I feel right again," added the four-time European 200m champion.

Dutch fans had been hoping for more glory after their team started off the event Tuesday with a women's relay world record but instead looked on aghast as their favourite laboured to the finish.

A Dutch Federation spokesperson had earlier revealed: "Pieter is sick and is asking himself if he will even compete further in the event."

The previous evening, VDH had appeared to be in difficulty in the final of the 4x100m freestyle where the Dutch quartet just managed to hold on for bronze.

Van den Hoogenband is scheduled to race in the 100m at the weekend but his participation is now in serious doubt.

His coach Jacco Verhaeren admitted that this was a setback in their preparations for the Olympics in less than five months.

"These European championships were ideally situated, a great opportunity for Pieter to test himself over a number of races. The goal here was for Pieter to swim a lot to observe the reactions of his body," said Verhaeren.

"We're going to see now if there is a possibility for Pieter to swim in another competition."

Van den Hoggenband has not been at his best since undergoing back surgery in 2005. Bidding for an unprecedented third Olympic 100m title, he has not won the event in a major competition since Athens 2004.