Verlinden claims ticket for Rio
After a nice afternoon session during which several records were swum the promising evening session commenced with the school swimming championships final. Thom Keukens, Kimberley Green and Sterre Hendriks finished first in their age category and took the gold medals home.
World records
Paralympic athlete Chantalle Zijderveld swam a smashing race during the 50m breast stroke. She set a world record by finishing in 34.46.
Later this evening the Paralympic men’s team Olivier van de Voort, Duncan van Haaren, Tim van Duuren en Thijs van Hofweegen performed during the 400m medley aiming to improve their earlier result. Van de Voort started and he succeeded in improving his own world record in the 100m backstroke by swimming 59.07. Despite the impressive start the finishing time of 4:26.07 was not enough for a Paralympic limit.
Mission completed
Knowing that he had only two attempts left to meet the requirements of the Olympic limit in the 100m butterfly Joeri Verlinden was determined to reach his goal. He swam a fantastic race in 51.79. ‘I shed a whole bunch of tears this afternoon and by doing so I got rid of all the negative energy. Fortunately I have been able to turn this evening into something positive and I finally succeeded. It just had to happen!’ says Verlinden relieved.
After this terrific performance of Joeri Verlinden 17 years old Nyls Korstanje managed to swim a record in his age category. This made him qualify fort he European Youth Championships.
50m butterfly
In the 50m women’s final butterfly two top athletes Ranomi Kromowidjojo and Jeanette Ottesen met each other. It was a very close race but in the end it was ‘Kromo’ who was the stronger athlete. “Ottesen is a very good swimmer and it feels good that I stayed ahead of her” says Kromowidjojo enthusiastically.
Maaike de Waard set a fantastic time in the same final by swimming 25.83. This made her qualify for the European Championships in London!
Good time
In the women’s 200m freestyle Femke Heemskerk swam a very convincing race by finishing in 1:55.85. She proved to be getting in shape for the European Championships that will be held in London next month. Robin Neumann and Marit Steenbergen who were close behind Femke also swam fantastically well by setting 1:57.85 and 1:57.87.
Marathon Maarten van der Weijden
After tonight’s spectacle former leukemia patient and Olympic champion open water Maarten van der Weijden has started his 42 km marathon in order to collect money fort he KWF cancer fund. Maarten will be supported by no less than 120 swimmers in the lanes around him. Maarten expects to finish tomorrow morning at 10 o’clock.
Vocal and financial support are very much appreciated! So don’t hesitate and contribute in either way!
Forecast Saturday
Tomorrow’s Swim Cup programme will be preceded by Maarten van der Weijden’s last kilometres of his marathon. Thereafter there will be series in various disciplines in which we amongst others will be watching top athletes Sebastiaan Verschuren, Ranomi Kromowidjojo and Femke Heemskerk. Watching the last kilometres of this marathon swim and the above top athletes are very good reasons to come to the the Swim Cup in the Pieter van den Hoogenband zwemstadion!
