Arno Kamminga will not participate in the semifinals of the 200-meter breaststroke on Wednesday evening at the World Swimming Championships in Budapest. The gold contender does not feel fit enough to take action. Kira Toussaint finished eighth and last in the 50m backstroke final.
“I haven’t felt fit since Saturday, but I’ve always been able to put that aside for my races so far,” says 26-year-old Kamminga. “I’m actually quite proud that I managed to squeeze two more medals out of it, but now I notice that the cake is really gone.”
Kamminga took silver in the 100-meter breaststroke on Sunday and bronze in the 4×100-meter medley for mixed relay teams on Tuesday with the Dutch team.
On Wednesday morning, the Katwijker also came into action in the series of the 200 school. He qualified for the semifinals, but tenth place didn’t match his status as one of the best breaststroke swimmers in the world. His time of 2.10.33 was more than three seconds above his Dutch record (2.06.84).
In consultation with the staff of the Dutch squad, Kamminga has decided to withdraw from the 200 school semi-finals. He won silver at the Tokyo Olympics last year at that distance, as well as in the 100 school.
With Caspar Corbeau, a Dutchman still participates in the semifinals of the 200 school. The 21-year-old swimmer scored the second time (2.09.15) in the series.
Arno Kamminga (right) was on the podium with the Dutch relay team on Tuesday evening.
Arno Kamminga (right) was on the podium with the Dutch relay team on Tuesday evening. Photo: AP
Toussaint last in final 50 meters back
Toussaint failed to peak in the 50m backstroke final. She finished eighth and last with a time of 27.80 seconds. She was also slower than Tuesday in the semifinals.
The victory went to Canadian Kylie Masse, who tapped in 27.31. American Katharine Berkoff (27.39) and French Analia Pigrée (27.40) claimed the other podium places.
Toussaint finished sixth in the final of the 100-meter backstroke on Monday. On Tuesday she did take bronze with the mixed relay team.
Marrit Steenbergen was unable to qualify for the final of the 100-meter freestyle in the fifth evening session of the World Cup in Budapest. The 22-year-old Frisian clocked the eleventh time in the semifinals with 54.11 and was three tenths short for a place in the top eight.
Steenbergen had qualified seventh in the series on Wednesday morning for the semi-finals. She then swam 54.13.