Femke Heemskerk Qualifies For Tokyo In 50 & 100 Free From Amsterdam Cup

2019 SWIM CUP AMSTERDAM

We reported how Spanish standout Hugo Gonzalez qualified for the 2020 Olympic Games in the men’s 200m IM, but the 20-year-old wasn’t the only one to accomplish the feat on the final day of action at the 2019 Swim Cup Amsterdam.

Ron Polansky of Israel also scored an OLY-qualifying effort in the men’s 200m IM. He produced an outing of 1:59.45 to get under the FINA A cut of 1:59.67 in the men’s 200m IM final, earning silver.

Dutch racers Ranomi Kromowidjojo and Femke Heemskerk each qualified for the women’s 50m free after their commanding performances in the event this evening.

2012 Olympic champion in the event Kromo first put up a fierce time of 24.42 in the morning to easily clear the 24.77 needed to include this event on her Tokyo agenda. The 29-year-old sealed the deal with her almost identical outing of 24.46 this evening that landed her atop the podium.

Heemskerk wasn’t too far behind, also clearing the Olympic standard with a silver medal-worthy result of 24.71. This makes a 2nd event for veteran Heemskerk, who already notched an Olympic qualifying time in the 100m free in last night’s action. The Dutch ace logged a winning 100m free mark of 53.23 to dip under the Tokyo threshold of 53.62, representing the only woman of last night’s final to do so. Kromo fell just short in 53.83.

Kromo doubled up on her 50m free victory with another gold in the 100m fly this evening. Stopping the clock in 59.36, Kromo led a trio of sub-minute swimmers, followed by Emilie Lovberg‘s (NOR) 59.38 and Maria Ugolkova‘s (SUI) 59.49. Lovberg’s time is a personal best, while Ugolkova’s was within .20 of her fastest result ever.

Equaling the Olympic qualifying standard in the men’s 100m fly was Isreali swimmer Tomer Frankel. The man touched the wall under the FINA A cut of 51.96, with his performance consisting of splits of 24.29/27.63.

The European Short Course Champion in the event, Marius Kusch, settled for silver in 32.31 followed by Dutchman Joeri Verlinden‘s 52.36.

Visiting British swimmer Elliott Clogg of the City of Sheffield posted a winning 200m back mark of 1:57.96. That checks in as a huge personal best for the 19-year-old English national teamer, crushing his previous PB of 1:59.83 from this year’s British Summer Championships.

Splitting 57.21/1:00.75, Clogg’s time now ranks the Sheffield swimmer as the 7th fastest British performer all time.

Additional Notes:

  • South African Commonwealth Games champion Tatjana Schoenmaker took 50m breast gold in 31.21.
  • The men’s 50m breast saw Arno Kamminga complete his sweep of the discipline, notching a winning mark of 27.01. He had already lowered his own Dutch national record in the heats with his wicked-fast 26.90.
  • Africa Zamorano of Spain got it done for the men’s 200m back gold, clocking 2:11.76.
  • Swiss swimmer Maria Ugolkova topped the women’s 200m IM field in a mark of 2:11.97. That cleared the Tokyo cut of 2:12.12 by .15.
  • Israeli swimmer Meiron Cheruti took the men’s 50m free in 22.08.
  • After a grueling 400m IM, 400m free and 200m fly schedule last night, Spaniard Mireia Belmonte finished off her Swim Cup Amsterdam with a gold in the 800m free in 8:37.84. Albert Escrits of the same nation won the men’s race in 7:56.49.

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swifter
4 years ago

Ron Polonsky of Israel also qualified for Tokyo in the 200 IM with 1:59.45. Under the A cut by 0.22 secs

swifter
4 years ago

Frenkel actually went 0.04 seconds under the Olympic A cut.

Superfan
4 years ago

Question: hypothetical ? If another girl goes 23+, is she locked out of Tokyo since these two have “made” the standards now?

Ragnar
Reply to  Superfan
4 years ago

I’d suspect the two fastest during the qualifying period would go, but many countries have their own unique ways of choosing the team members. But I’m unaware of any women of the Netherlands that are faster than these two flying dutchwomen, I’d say they’re safe

DutchDolphin
Reply to  Ragnar
4 years ago

Indeed the two fastest go in the qualification period. There are a few outsiders who have a small chance at beating the 24,7 from Heemskerk.

Dee
4 years ago

Men’s 200 Back is suddenly a really competitive event in Britain. Greenbank 1.55, Williams 1.56, McNally & Clogg 1.57… Trials should be interesting.

Loretta Race
Reply to  Dee
4 years ago

That was a nasty swim from Clogg! Pleasant surprise!

Ragnar
Reply to  Dee
4 years ago

The minute a sub-53 100 backstroker shows up, your 4×100 medley is very dangerous

Dee
Reply to  Ragnar
4 years ago

They’re already very dangerous, they’re World Champions. If a sub 53 backstroker shows up, GBR will be warm favourites IMO. We’ve been waiting a long time though.

Superfan
Reply to  Ragnar
4 years ago

One of these 2backstrokers is bound to have the speed to go a good 100 for that relay?!?!

About Retta Race

Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having just earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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