The summer of 2006 is one that will live long in the memory for Ranomi Kromowidjojo.
After competing at the European Junior Championships in Palma de Mallorca, Ranomi was called up to the Netherlands squad for the senior competition in Budapest.
There she marked her debut with silver, swimming the second leg of the 4x100m freestyle as the Dutch quartet finished behind Germany. Two weeks later Ranomi turned sweet 16.
Since then she has won sprint freestyle titles at Olympic, world and European level.
The 100m freestyle is the glamour race. “We call it the king’s event in Holland,” smiles Ranomi’s coach Patrick Pearson. “We see it as the main event. It is just long enough to have a lot of excitement. And it’s not too long to get a little bit bored by it.”
So, what is different about Ranomi?
STROKE
“Ranomi has a different stroke to other girls because she has a stroke with a little bit more rotation, there is not a lot of gliding in her stroke.
“Her stroke rate over 100m is about 53/54 which is quite high. She has a more downward stroke with not a lot of gliding in it. She gets a lot of power from her rotation. She can swim 50 free in a 63 stroke rate which is very high.
“One of the most important things is you have a nice high…
