At the international meeting in Rotterdam, our swimmers will go for a European Championship ticket or even a starting ticket for the Olympic Games in Tokyo in the coming days. The 15-year-old talent Roos Vanotterdijk is one of the candidates to qualify for the top competitions. This has already worked for Louis Croenen, he mainly wants to race.
The European Swimming Championships will take place in Budapest in May next year, the Olympic Games in Tokyo are on the calendar 2 months later. From today to Sunday, top international swimmers compete in Rotterdam for starting tickets.
Roos Vanotterdijk is one of the candidates. She swims the freestyle, the butterfly and the backstroke in the Dutch port city.
“I’m not working on the European Championship or the Games yet. I mainly focus on fun and then we’ll see what comes out of the bus”, Ronald Gaastra’s 15-year-old pupil looks ahead. “I have prepared a little more for the free than for the butterfly.”
“I’m really looking forward to it, because it has been a long time since we swam again.”
In August, Vanotterdijk set a strong time at a meeting in Hengelo. With 58 “30 she beat the world topper Ranomi Kromowidjojo in the 100 meter butterfly stroke. The Olympic limit is not much sharper (57” 91).
(scroll down to see coach Ronald Gaastra’s expectations)
Coach: “Olympic limit would be early”
“It was almost eighteen months ago, of the World Cup in China, that we peaked again”, says top sports coach Ronald Gaastra. “We’ve trained harder than ever.”
“I hope that we all swim personal records. Left or right I hope for a limit for the European Championship in May. I wouldn’t call qualifying for the Games a miracle, but very early in the season.”
It is not impossible. “No”, Gaastra answers. “I give Valentine Dumont a good chance, just like Lander Hendrickx who trains under Brigitte Becue.”
“And perhaps also Roos Vanotterdijk. That would be a pure bonus, because in the past few weeks we have ignored her butterfly stroke to take the pressure off. And as a teenager you still have to focus on multiple strokes”, says Gaastra.
“With Roos I only think about top performances towards the Olympic Games of 2024 in Paris. Hopefully she can aim for finals there and maybe even more, but that is another 4 years. My crystal ball does not reach that far. I can now wish for more don’t pronounce. “
With Roos I only think about top performances towards the Olympic Games of 2024 in Paris. Hopefully she can aim for finals there and maybe more.
(read on below the video)
Croenen: “Finally racing again”
Louis Croenen has already qualified for the Olympic Games. He is especially happy that he can participate in another top competition in Rotterdam.
“That was months ago,” says the 26-year-old swimmer. “It makes me extra stimulated to show myself in Rotterdam. I am really looking forward to racing again.”
“This comes at the right time, this period did not have to last much longer for me”, Croenen continues.
“I view the meeting as a good test for Tokyo. Hopefully I can set a personal record, because I want to put the finishing touches”, the butterfly specialist concludes.
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