Reigning Olympic champion Ranomi Kromowidjojo is heading into 2016 Olympic Games with a very different set of circumstances than she did four years ago.
Before the London Olympics Kromowidjojo had experienced success winning Olympic gold as part of the Dutch 4 x 100 freestyle relay team as well also capturing the silver in the 50 freestyle and the bronze in the 100 freestyle at the 2011 World Championships.
After walking away from London with Olympic gold in both the 50 and 100 freestyle she comes into Rio with a lot more experience, but more expectation as well, “For training it is not totally different,” Kromowidjojo told SwimSwam in an interview earlier today. “For the world and how I feel now it has been different. The last Olympics I was one of the favourites, but I didn’t have gold yet. Now I do.”
“I am the one that puts the most pressure on myself. Of course I feel like as the Olympics get closer and the more of the world is paying attention the pressure is getting more. I don’t feel it like a negative thing. It is a good thing, because it means a big thing is coming and it gives me a lot of energy and a lot of confidence.”
“I have experience that is the most positive thing. I know what to expect and know how to deal with the world, the media and know how to prepare for an Olympic final.”
Before London Kromowidjojo was the world’s top ranked swimmer in both events something that is also very different heading into Rio. She is currently ranked fifth in the world in both events.
Not only are there women who have gone faster than her this year, but Cate Campbell has gone times in the 2015-16 season that are significantly better than Kromowidjojo’s lifetime bests.
- Cate Campbell (season’s bests) – 50 free – 23.84 100 freestyle – 52.38
- Kromowidjojo (lifetime bests) – 50 freestyle – 24.05 100 freestyle – 52.75
“(The Campbells) are my biggest rivals. Especially Cate who over the last four years has swum incredibly fast. Bronte since last year has gotten faster and faster. Sarah (Sjostrom) don’t under estimate her. I am looking forward to racing against Sarah here (European Championships) and have to wait another month to race against the Campbells.”
“It is going to be really fun. I am in the best shape for me going into the Olympics. I think it is going to be really fun.”
Since 2012 Kromowidjojo has also had to find a coaching situation she is comfortable with. After 2012 Jacco Verhaeren, her long time coach, decided to step off of the deck to focus on his role as the Technical Director of Dutch swimming. Ultimately Verhaeren left the country in 2013 to become the Head Coach of the Australian National Team.
After Verhaeren stepped away from the deck Kromowidjojo began to train under the guidance of Marcel Wouda a relationship that lasted just a year. At that point Wouda’s assistant Christiaan Sloof stepped in, but less then a year later decided he was not the right man for the job. Since that point the Olympic champion has worked with coach Patrick Pearson a relationship that she is very confident in,
“It took a little longer than I expected to find a new coach,” says Kromowidjojo. “Not just a good coach. I needed to have 110% confidence. Not only as a good trainer, not only in the water, but also outside of the water and it took a while.”
“After Jacco left for Australia I had to find that person. One and a half years ago my current coach Patrick Pearson and I started to work together and today it is fantastic. I think that it is really important in the Olympic season that there are no changes. I am happy this year and last year to have a stable situation. A good situation with no ups and downs, just ups.”
“He is really into details and that is what I need in the 50 and the 100. He is a really nice guy to work with outside of the pool as well. He is like a friend and we can have fun together it is not only like he is there for training sessions we can talk about music or good restaurants.”
For Kromowidjojo a different set of expectations, a new level of competition and a change in coaches creates a new set of challenges, but she heading into Rio more than ready to face them head on.
Sadly she may not even medal coming in 4th behind the Campbell sisters and Sjostrom. The 100 free is crazy fast for the women these days.
Ranomi always manages to come out on top