Ranomi Kromowidjojo, who currently has the top ranked 100 LCM freestyle time in the world, has been hospitalized with a case of viral meningitis. She was training in the Spanish Canary Islands (off of the Atlantic coast of Africa) with the Dutch National Team in preparation for the upcoming European Championships. Last Thursday, she started complaining of a headache, neck, and back pain. After visiting a local hospital, it was determined that she had viral meningitis and she was hospitalized immediately.
Viral meningitis, unlike bacterial meningitis puts her teammates at little risk of contracting the illness. The viral version of the disease is more common and less severe than the bacterial form, and is rarely life threatening in people with normal immune systems. Still, all reports are that Kromowidjojo is in a lot of pain. Symptoms usually clear up in 7-10 days with no specific treatment beyond a standard regimen of rest, fluids, and fever reducers for symptom relief.
This illness has thrown a serious monkey wrench into the Dutch teen’s final preparations for the upcoming European Championships that begin on August 9th in Budapest, Hungary.
At the Amsterdam Swim Cup in March, Kromowidjojo posted a 53.44 in the 100m freestyle, which is still the top time in the world this year. She also threw out a 24.40 in the 50m race, which is the second fastest time in the world this year.
Kromowidjojo has seen a meteoric rise to stardom after being the youngest member of the gold-medal winning 4x100m relay at the 2008 Beijing Olympics for the Netherlands. At still only 19-years old, this will not be her last chance at the European Championships, but it would be another blow to the World-beating Dutch sprint crew that has fallen apart in recent months.
Of the four members who won gold in Beijing, Kromowidjojo is likely out of the meet with meningitis, 31-year old Marleen Veldhuis recently gave birth and is not yet ready to compete, and 24-year old Inge Dekker is out with a shoulder injury. That leaves only 22-year old Femke Heemskerk returning to defend the European title, which leaves a daunting task.
Although Kromowidjojo has not been officially ruled out for the upcoming meet, chances are looking very slim at this point. If this changes, we will be sure to post an update to the story.