The Tokyo Olympics opened Arno Kamminga‘s eyes to what was possible.
The Netherlands swimmer left the Japanese capital with silver medals in the 100m and 200m breaststroke, five years after not making the team.
His Tokyo double came after Kamminga won triple silver at the European Championships in Budapest and he concluded the year with two further medals, including mixed relay gold, at the World Short-Course Championships in Abu Dhabi.
But it was the Olympics that had a huge impact on the 26-year-old, who realised he had a long way to go before realising his potential.
He told Swimming World:
“So coming into Tokyo, I had improved a lot during the year and I knew what was possible but I was still like ‘I need to show my ‘A’ game now, I need to show what I trained for in the last couple of years, especially during Covid which was pretty rough’.
“Getting there on the blocks and getting home with two medals…. and not only that but the way I swam my races.
“Especially with the 200 and going out that fast – the way I was swimming the first 100, 150, it was spot on.
“And that gave me so much confidence going into this year and going into the next couple of years: that really opened my eyes that you can swim way faster than this – just keep doing what you’re doing and keep improving and then swimming is going to be even more fun.”
Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
While Kamminga was in the Tokyo bubble, he had little comprehension of how much attention the Games were commanding back in the Netherlands.
It was not until he returned that he understood the magnitude of it all.
He said:
“It was overwhelming but it was a pretty safe first Olympics because of Covid: it was so small and sheltered so I didn’t feel how it was back home in the Netherlands.
“Once I arrived home that was the moment I saw what was happening over there, how big it was and how people were really watching it and living with it and for the first time people were recognising me on the street.
“It was like woah! This is so much bigger than I knew was happening when I was out there racing: at the Olympics it was just like any other meet for me, I was racing to show my best.
“The weeks after really showed how much bigger the Olympics was: on one hand it was a shame it didn’t happen at the Olympics, that my friends and family weren’t there, the stands were empty.
“On the other hand, it was a pretty nice first Olympics so coming into Paris I know what the Olympics are now and I am more prepared for when the stands are full and there are so many people.”
Does becoming a household name mean there were selfies in the street?
“Not really: some recognised me, especially my name sounds familiar to most people – they walk by, look back and say ‘is it really him? I like it’.
A 58.5 Blast In February
Kamminga claimed his first international long-course medals in 2021 and this year he has already hinted at what may be in store with 58.52 at the Eindhoven Swim Meet in February.
He also went 2:10.02 over 200m and 27.21 in the 50m.
It followed a three-and-a-half week training stint at altitude in Flagstaff, Arizona, something he described as “pretty rough”.
Photo Courtesy: ANP, Robin van Lonkhuizen
On their return to Europe, Kamminga and coach Mark Faber set some goals for the competition, one of them being to do the 100m in roughly 58.5 seconds.
“Spot on we swam 58.5 even though the race wasn’t perfect at all.
“That gives so much motivation and also shows how great we trained in the last couple of weeks and months and it really helps us moving forward.”
That was his swiftest unrested in-season race and the joint ninth-quickest of his career.
“It was not only the time but the way I swum it: back then when I swum a good time ti felt special, when you swim a PB you know you are doing something special. It was more like I am showing what I am doing in practice. That was a really nice feeling.”
Kamminga has the World Championships in Budapest in June followed by the European Championships in Rome in August.
The 100br podium in Tokyo last year was filled by Europeans – Adam Peaty, Kamminga and Nicolo Martinenghi – and the trio will reunite twice this continental swimmer.
In the 200, he will once more meet Matti Mattson, Tokyo bronze medallist, Britain’s James Wilby and Erik Persson while Anton Chupkov will miss at least Rome following Russia’s invasion of Ukriane.
Kamminga said:
“I have my goals but I won’t tell them yet. I just want to make the next step.
“Last year I made a big step and I showed what I am capable of but I still think there is so much left in the tank and I can swim so much faster than this. Let’s see where it goes.
“I see every race as an opportunity to improve myself; this is the year when you can shine.
“You can win so many titles this year especially if you do the Commonwealths as well – so the Brits can win so many titles.
“You can just show the world how good you are and you have extra opportunities to improve yourself.”