Dutch Women Break 4×50 Free Relay World Record In Copenhagen

EUROPEAN SHORT COURSE CHAMPIONSHIPS 2017

The Dutch women closed out day three of the European Short Course Championships in style, breaking the world record in the 4×50 free relay in a time of 1:33.91. The team of Ranomi KromowidjojoFemke HeemskerkTamara Van vilet and Valerie van Roon combined to take out the previous record of 1:34.24, also set by the Netherlands at the 2014 SC Worlds in Doha.

Kromowidjojo got the team out ahead off the start with a quick 23.42 lead-off, and Heemskerk’s 23.19 extended the lead. van Vilet had the fastest 3rd leg in the field at 23.65, and van Roon matched her to have the 2nd fastest anchor overall. They won by over two seconds, with Sweden taking silver in 1:35.92 and Denmark 3rd in 1:36.02.

The previous record was held by the Dutch quartet of Inge Dekker, Heemskerk, Maude van der Meed and Kromowidjojo. Check out a comparison of the splits from the new and previous world records:

Netherlands, 2014
Netherlands, 2017
Dekker (24.09)
Kromowidjojo (23.42)
Heemskerk (23.24)
Heemskerk (23.19)
van der Meed (24.03) van Vilet (23.65)
Kromowidjojo (22.88)
van Roon (23.65)
1:34.24 1:33.91

Sweden’s held off Denmark for silver thanks to Sarah Sjostrom, who had the fastest split in the field at 22.94. Pernille Blume moved the Danes into the bronze medal position and nearly ran down the Swedes with her 23.42 anchor.

Though this is the official world record, the Dutch team of Dekker, Kromowidjojo, Hinkelien Schreuder and Saskia de Jonge went even faster back at the 2009 European Championships in 1:33.25. This was before the 4×50 relay world records were tracked by FINA, as that didn’t begin until 2013. This is also the case for the men’s 4×50 free and women’s 4×50 medley relay events.

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Klorn8d
6 years ago

In my opinion they should drop mixed relays and add 4 by 50 relays to worlds. That’d be awesome.

Rafael
Reply to  Klorn8d
6 years ago

4×50 would-be amazing but the results would be expected easily Brazil x us men side Netherlands on women side easily

(G)olden Bear
6 years ago

Hup Holland!

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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