At the Dutch Open National Championships in Eindhoven this past weekend, which serves as the first Olympic qualifier for the Netherlands, there was a great group of European swimmers in attendance. The results were shiningly spectacular, with a ton of Championship Records going down, and even some huge National marks.
Sarah Sjostrom had a strong meet a week ago at Swedish Nationals, where she seemed to break a record of some sort with every swim. But she wasn’t done, as she jetted to nearby Eindhoven and continued to bring up some huge versatility.
She won the 100 free in 53.05, which is by nearly a second the fastest time of her career. That clears the Swedish National Record that was previously held by Therese Alshammar from the 2009 World Championships in 53.58.
Sjostrom’s time would have won the World Championships title this last year by four-tenths (it’s the fastest in the world in 2011) and in terms of all-time rankings moves her from 33rd all the way to 6th (and is an all-time textile best). With the Dutch women faltering at last year’s World Championships, the race was lacking a swimmer who felt like a true Olympic champion, but with that swim Sjostrom becomes the favorite.
On day 2, she undertook a tough double in a pair of events that she seems to be a bit closer to maxed out in than she is in the sprint freestyles. She started her day off with a 57.32, which just missed her time from Worlds, and ended it with a runner-up swim in 1:57.21. Dutch swimmer Femke Heemskerk crushed a championship record with a 1:56.76 victory to earn a qualifying time for the London Olympics.
And as we continue to work backwards through Sjostrom’s meet, on day 1 in the 50 free she swam a lifetime best and a new Swedish Junior Record of 24.75.
Unfortunately, this is the Netherlands, and in the Netherlands 24.75 doesn’t win 50 freestyles. The top spot went to Ranomi Kromowidjojo in 24.30, which is just .03 away from her season-best time. Marleen Veldhuis took 2nd in 24.39, which is a tenth off of her season-best time (but still left her 3rd in the world).
On the men’s side of the competition, there were a serious of strong swims, though none were quite as world-beating as the ones discussed on the women’s side. France’s Camille Lacourt swept the 50 and 100 back in 24.96/53.71.
Job Kienhuis was the best performer of the Dutch men. He swam a 14:58.34 that breaks the Netherlands National Record. That’s 7-seconds better than his previous career-best (which was also previously the National Record). That ranks him 10th in the world this year as he really moves into the elite air of distance swimming.
To put Kienhuis’ time in context, in 2010 his best was a 15:24. That’s a massive improvement for him.
Dutch swimmer Sebastiaan Verschuren swam an Olympic qualifying time (the Netherlands has faster marks than those set by FINA and the IOC) in the 100 free with a 48.60 win. He has a strong World Championship meet in this 100 free to add on to his superior 200 freestyle.
France’s Florent Manaudou, who is trying to find his way onto the Olympic Team (a 100 fly better than the 54.56 he went in prelims would have been appreciated), was 3rd in the 100 free in 49.40. The Italians have a long way to go before next weekend’s European Short Course Championships, as none of their men’s 100 free crew went faster than a 50.2 in this race (Luca Leonardi).
In the men’s 100 fly, Evgeny Korotyshkin broke a Championship Record with a 52.11 100 fly. That’s a very strong mid-season swim for her in the buildup to the Russian Olympic Trials.
And finally, in the men’s 200 breaststroke, Britain’s Michael Jamieson cleared his career-best time by .02 with a 2:10.40.
DDIas, I’m glad I wasn’t among those who bashed you.
DDias, I had the same experience as you. I have said since Jan 2010 that as soon as Halsall gets it all right at the same time her 100FR British standard (52.87) is history and was bashed on other blogs for a long time!
Less than a month ago i was bashed because i told 53 low can t even medal in 100 free… training,talent,technique+ new start blocks=GREAt times!And Sarah wasn tapered!
We will see the same in the male side.
any girl aiming for 100 free olympic medal must aim to swim sub 53, definitely. 53+ just doesn’t cut it anymore.
I agree with John, I was lucky enough to see this race at the event. What I would say is, Kromowidjojo & Sjostrom were BOTH amazing! Sarah was unrivalled throughout the whole race in terms of her ease, from the stands her kick was clearly the mosy rhythmic and powerful if not the fastest, she showed pure and easy speed.
I also agree RE Heemskerk & Halsall, Sjostrom has jumped way ahead of the other girls here but we must remember Halsall & Heemskerk did not perform great in Shanghai and Halsall had a relatively poor year due to injury earlier on. Then add on Franklin (Who has immense potential here) and Kromowidjojo and the race is actually open.
Sjostrom,… Read more »
Sjostrom is the first one to pop a time that the performances of Heemkerk and Halsall have suggested they have the ability to swim. That said, this is a huge time drop, and I honestly thought this was a SC time. It is kind of strange that the co-gold medalists from this year are in no ways even in the medal conversation for London, but 53.4 was probably on the slow side of what everyone thought would win this event at worlds.
WIth Franklin pushing this race, I see this event being won sub53 in London