Louis Croenen is a Belgium freestyle and butterfly swimmer and two-time Olympian. He made his Olympic debut in 2012, but his first Olympic finals four years later. He holds the Belgium national record in the long course and short course meters 200 butterfly.
Early Career
Croenen wasn’t always on track for a career in swimming. He began as a football player with the national under 10 and 11 team, but in 2005 he chose to focus on swimming. He went to the best sports school in Antwerp and a member of SHARK swim team under Rik Valcke. During his junior career, Croenen broke numerous Belgium youth records and represented his country at the European Youth Olympic Festival and the European Championships.
Still just a junior swimmer, Croenen was at the European Short Course Championships in 2011 where he won a bronze medal as part of the 200 meter freestyle relay in a new national record.
2012 London Olympic Games
At 18 years old, Croenen made his Olympic debut in London. He was a member of the Belgium 800 meter freestyle relay that broke the national record. But the quartet failed to make the final, finishing 12th overall.
2015 FINA World Championships
At the World Championships in Kazan, Russia, Croenen broke his own national record (1:55.39) in the 200 meter butterfly en route to a seventh place finish in the final. He also reached the final in the 800 meter freestyle relay. He helped Belgium to a sixth place finish in another national record.
2016 Rio Olympic Games
At his second Olympic Games Croenen again competed in the 800 meter freestyle relay but also added an individual event, 200 meter butterfly. He made the final in both events and the happened on the same night, becoming the first Belgium to swim a double Olympic final in one session. First up was the 200 meter butterfly where he finished eighth in 1:57.04. In the relay he also finished eighth.
