Netherland’s 2012 double Olympic Champion, Ranomi Kromowidjojo, showed up with fast swims at the 46th International Swimfestival in Aachen, Germany. On Saturday, she set a highlight at the short course meet and finished first in the 50 m freestyle in 23,64 seconds. Today, she touched first in the 100 m freestyle in 51,83 seconds without being challenged from any other swimmer in this race – second was her teammate from her home swim club KNZB (Netherlands) Maud van der Meer in 0:53,74 seconds, nearly 2 seconds slower – an eternity in a sprint event. Kromowidjojo won gold in both events, the 50 m and 100 m freestyle at the London Olympic Games.
The Aachener Swimfestival always has attracted many dutch swim stars and also some other swimmers showed solid swims in the beginning short course season which is literally very short in this 2015 pre-olympic and after-World-Championships season – in which even the FINA World Cup is held in long course this year. Only the Europeans have an upcoming season highlight with the European Short Course Championships in Natanya, Israel, in December (2-6).
Sebas van Lith (swim club KNZB/Netherlands) finished in Aachen first in a 2:08,36 on the 200 m breaststroke. Dutch swimmer Timon Evenhius (swim club: De Dolfin) touched first in the 50 m breaststroke in 26,84 seconds – he went faster in prelims with a 26,76, both very fast times with a view on the actual FINA SC World Ranking. Another dutch swimmer, Jesse Puts, swam a fast 50 m race – with a 21,82 in the freestyle competition. He also was able to finish one tenth of a second faster in the morning heats. Puts won the 100 m freestyle in 0:48,61 minutes.
The LEN “Ligue Euroéene de Natation”, the governing body of swimming in Europe, has announced at a meeting in Vienna (Austria) growing prize money pots for 2016, but they already will offer more prize money and an addittional travel costs support – both combined about 500.000 € (570.000 USD) for the European Short Course Championships in Natanya in December. This has led to a record participation of 46 nations so far.
All results from the Swimfestival in Aachen, Germany, can be found here:
