After achieving a one-two-three finish on the first day of the FINA Champions Swim Series on January 18, Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED) is happy to come back to Beijing again and start to count the time until the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Kromowidjojo was a member of the winning mixed freestyle relay team, after earning a silver medal in the women’s 100m free and bronze in the 100m butterfly.
Comparing today’s results with the performances in the first leg in Shenzhen on January 14-15, the Dutchwoman swam faster in Beijing in both individual events, 53.52 to 54.15, and 59.17 to 59.99 in 100m butterfly.
“I feel really good here at the Ying Dong Swimming Natatorium, the venue for the Water Polo tournaments at the 2008 Olympics. It is nice to be back in Beijing after the Olympics which bring me great memories. I like the venue, the audience and the show, except the cold weather. I don’t like cold. I prefer summer, but it’s fine”.
“I did three very good races tonight. The 50m fly was a good time. And then the 100m free was good too. And then I was in the winning mixed free relay team. I finished a one-two-three. Was it the day for me?” Kromowidjojo laughed.
Photo by gettyimages
Kromowidjojo, who collected a gold medal in the women’s 4x100m free relay in her Olympic debut in Beijing, now looks forward to her fourth Olympics in Tokyo.
“I’m really motivated for my fourth Olympic Games in Tokyo. That keeps me motivated to train hard. We had one week break off for the Christmas, and then we came back to training. I train together with Femke Heemskerk in the same pool.”
During the first Olympic qualification in the Netherlands, held in last December, the 29-year-old qualified for the 50m and 100m free and 4X100m free relay.
“I got qualified and I can concentrate on my preparation for the Olympic Games. But my rivals are very fast. I hope to do my best races and then we’ll see”.