2017 KNZB CHALLENGER – DORDRECHT
- March 18th-19th, 2017
- Results
The latest installment of the KNZB Challenger Series took place in Dordrecht this weekend, with several Olympians taking to the pool, producing notable swims. Along with Femke Heemskerk winning the women’s 100m freestyle in 54.27 and Ferry Weertman taking them men’s 200m freestyle in 1:50.74, Ranomi Kromowidjojo earned some hardware in her home country. The 2012 Olympic champion tackled the women’s 50m and 100m freestyle, but also added a rarely swum event to her lineup in Dordrecht.
‘Kromo’ raced the expected 50m freestyle, where the 26-year-old snagged the only sub-25-second time of the field. She stopped the clock at a speedy 24.95 for the gold, although she’s been as fast as 24.34 eaerlier this month in the Hague. That earlier time checks in as the 2nd fastest in the world, with her 24.95 still ranking within the top 10.
2016-2017 LCM WOMEN 50 FREE
SJOSTROM
23.67*WR
| 2 | Ranomi KROMOWIDJOJO | NED | 23.85 | 07/30 |
| 3 | Simone MANUEL | USA | 23.97 | 07/30 |
| 4 | Pernille BLUME | DEN | 24.00 | 07/30 |
| 5 | Bronte CAMPBELL | AUS | 24.43 | 07/29 |
| 6 | Aliaksandra HERASIMENIA | BLR | 24.46 | 07/30 |
| 7 | Cate CAMPBELL | AUS | 24.47 | 03/04 |
| 8 | Rikako IKEE | JPN | 24.48 | 02/18 |
| 9 | Anna SANTAMANS | FRA | 24.54 | 07/29 |
| 10 | Xiang LIU | CHN | 24.56 | 07/29 |
Bypassing the 100m freestyle, Kromo opted instead for the 100m butterfly, an event she hasn’t swum since 2015. Entering this weekend, Kromo’s personal best sat at the 59.72 she scored way back in 2009. She was able to shave some time off that mark this weekend, however, touching the wall in a new career fastest of 59.62.
Prior to the race, Kromowidjojo reached out to 100m butterfly world record holder and Olympic gold medalist Sarah Sjostrom for some friendly ad hoc racing advice, using the hashtag #thinklikesarah. Sjostrom responded to the Instagram post, writing, “Just all out first 50, and hope for the best the last 50 ?.”
Kromo seemed to heed the advice to a degree, taking her 100 race out in 27.50 and bringing it home in 32.41.
