Her great example Ranomi Kromowidjojo advised Janna van Kooten to enjoy her first performance at a world championship. The 18-year-old swimmer from Niekerk did that every second in Fukuoka.
Although she failed to make it to the 200m free final, her uninhibited performance in a packed stadium gave confidence for the future. “Ranomi said before the race that it is bizarre that I am already standing here and that so many girls watched the TV who would have wanted to be here. I certainly followed her advice and got a thumbs up from her afterwards from the stands. I will definitely talk to her again”, says Van Kooten.
Kromowidjojo, who is present at the World Cup in Japan as ambassador for the swimming association, is an important source of information for Van Kooten. The three-time Olympic champion and Van Kooten both swam at Trivia in Groningen and have built up an intensive bond. “It is so nice that I can always go to her,” said Van Kooten.
Personal records
She gave her debut extra shine by sharpening her personal best twice. In the series she swam a time of 1.58.16 and was again below that in the semi-final with 1.58.12. She thus finished fifteenth and did not reach the final.
But she had not counted on the semi-finals and she surprised herself with that. She thought it was great that she was allowed to play again in a full stadium. “The Japanese went completely crazy. That was so cool. I also swim a pr, so my day can’t go wrong. This tastes like more. I’ll swim the 4×200 meters free here later. I am very much looking forward to that.”
National coach Mark Faber was pleased with her performance. “It’s nice to make such an uninhibited debut. She is enjoying herself here with an open mind. That is certainly also good for the relay on the 4×200 meter free. We were the only country with America and Australia with two swimmers in the semi-finals. It does not say that we will win for a while, but it does say something about the level.”