ROTTERDAM QUALIFICATION MEET (NED)
- Thursday, December 3rd – Sunday, December 6th
- Zwemcentrum Rotterdam, Netherlands
- LCM (50m)
- Olympic Qualifier/European Championships Qualifier
- Entries
- SwimSwam Meet Preview
- Day 1 Recap/Day 2 Recap/Day 3 Recap/Day 4 Recap
- Live Results
- Live Stream
The 2020 Rotterdam Qualification Meet in the Netherlands wrapped up over the weekend, but not before several more Dutch swimmers added their names to the Tokyo 2020 lineup.
Along with those swimmers such as Ranomi Kromowidjojo and Arjan Knipping who had already booked their tickets to the postponed Olympic Games via their 2019 World Championships performances, new additions to the tune of Tes Schouten and Thom de Boer made the grade.
As we reported, one unique scenario transpired with Olympic veteran Femke Heemskerk along the way, with the 33-year-old having to sit out of the Rotterdam meet due to coronavirus quarantining for her husband’s positive test. Having already qualified for Tokyo in both the 50m and 100m free, Heemskerk sat powerless as she watched swimmers do their best to replace the 33-year-old by racing times faster than hers.
And one swimmer made it happen in the form of Valerie Van Roon, who clocked a massive personal best of 24.63 to knock Heemskerk off the Olympic roster for the 50m free, joining already-qualified Kromo. Heemskerk retained her 100m free spot as a consolation in this scenario. You can read more about this situation here.
In response to Heemskerk’s elimination in the 50m free, some readers called the result ‘unfair’ while others said it’s all part of the game.
Royal Dutch Swimming Federation (KNZB) Technical Director Andre Cats said that this particular scenario had been discussed and that no exceptions would be made.
“As far as I am concerned, it has been clear enough. The swimmers should have known,” Cats told NOS.
Cats also said that the association cannot make an exception for every swimmer, even with coronavirus in play.
“If we take the path that we take coronavirus into account with every decision, we’re lost.”
In contradiction to these statements, NOS also reported that Heemskerk stated, “Of course it should have been considered in advance: what happens if someone cannot participate because of corona? I am especially very sad about that.”
She said she was more than ready to race and was merely rendered powerless by the unprecedented coronavirus situation.
Regarding her opposition to the KNZB’s stance, Heemskerk said, “And I don’t wish anyone this fight. Let’s get this right for everyone.”
I’ve reached out to Heemskerk and Cats for additional comments.
The bottom line is that she wasn’t there to race. It’s brutal, and I’m glad she kept her spot in the 100, but the qualification rules and covid protocols were clear. Whether or not it was within her control is irrelevant, that’s the game we’re all playing this year. Van Roon went fast and earned the spot.
COVID-19 is obviously a big deal for public appearances and it’s ability to be asymptomatic right now, but the dutch are crazy if they’re setting the team in stone right now. The goal for team selection is to field the best athletes JUST BEFORE and DURING the target event, not SEVEN months before hand. Congrats on the PB by Van Roon, but Van Roon won’t be in sub 24 territory next summer, Femke will. Rules are made by humans, are inheritably fallible and normally made in a vacuum, so give her a chance next year. The 2015 WCs come to mind, when Phelps could only dominate at Nationals because somebody in a suit and tie decided qualifying a year prior… Read more »
You think Femke will be sub 24? Thats rarified air
Having a PB of 24.5 I don’t see her going sub 24 lol
this is the most fair outcome. luckily she made it in the 100 so it’s not as devastating
Am I the only one who thinks that it is absurd that the Netherlands is already closing their spots in December, half a year away from the Olympics? Especially with Covid and all the safety concerns around the tournaments, wouldn’t it be logical to give the swimmers, in particular someone like Heemskurk who really got fricked by Covid, another shot?
I can see that argument.
The counter argument they’ll make is that they’re now giving their top swimmers 7 months to prepare for the Games however they want without having to worry about another taper if they don’t want to.
Who’s right? Nobody knows, because we can’t play out both scenarios for the same athletes and choose the better outcome.
Dutchies have only closed qualifying for Tokyo in events where 2 swimmers have met their standards (faster than FINA A cuts). Only a few events have this problem. For all the others, there are two other opportunities to still qualify – Swim Cup in April and Euros in May (if they happen).
Also huge fact that Heemskerk left out, was that she (and her husband) should be in quarantaine during the period her husband got sick. She claims she could have done nothing about it, but in fact she COULD have done something about it. Also people saying KNZB should take Heemskerk because she is so good. True, but Valerie was better. Both had 4 chances during the qualifying period as well.
she isn’t disallowed. she is still qualified in the 100FR. why should the young lady that put up a faster time in the 50 be disallowed is the more alarming question if that’s what you’re proposing.
Completely agree. You shouldn’t deny someone an Olympic place just because someone who wasn’t there “might” have gone faster. It’s not like the time FH put up was done at a mid-season meet or something – she had every chance to put together a fast time.
Think about it this way. Valerie van Roon had the swim of her life there, and qualifies for her first Olympics, but then if the KNZB makes an exception for Heemskerk and says “you’re not going, we saved another swimmer a spot already.” Wouldn’t that be unfair for van Roon as well?
Yikes. Exception for every swimmer? You only have so many heemskerks