The southern Caribbean island nation of Aruba is having a breakout World Aquatics Championships with best-ever results in the pool across multiple disciplines.
Aruban swimming is having a moment. Just a week after artistic swimmer Kyra Hoevertsz recorded the nation’s best-ever result at a World Aquatics Championships with a seventh placed finish in the Women’s Solo Technical final, Mikel Schreuders powered his way into the nation’s first pool swimming final in Doha to also finish seventh behind winner Sam Williamson.
At his sixth World Aquatics Championships, the 26-year-old Aruban bumped the third fastest man ever, Ilya Shymanovich, out of the final and then delivered a blistering 26.97 personal best. A sub-27 is an impressive time for any swimmer, let alone one who hails from a small island in the southern Caribbean that is home to just over 100,000 residents, and one who is usually a freestyler.
Schreuders only swam freestyle events at his first four World Aquatics Championships and is a 21.97 and 48.40 swimmer across the 50m and 100m events. In fact his new personal best in the 50m Breaststroke came less than half an hour after clocking a near career-best 48.46 in the semi finals of the 100m Freestyle.
“I wish I had a little bit more time to rest, but I'm not going to complain about getting to swim a semi final and final on the same night,” Schreuders told World Aquatics after his breaststroke final.
“My first World Championships in Kazan I don't remember what place I got but it was definitely far from a semi final or final. Back then I wasn't even sure if it was possible to reach a semi final or final, but I'm happy that I'm working hard, and I’m dedicated to reaching the next level for Aruba.”
Despite a period training in the United States and now France, Schreuders understands the importance of promoting the sport back home and inspiring the next generation.
“I’m very proud to be the first Aruban to reach a World Aquatics Championships swimming final,” said Schreuders.
“I hope it makes kids realise back home in Aruba that if I've done it, they can also do it.”
“Normally you only see big countries in semifinals and finals, so hopefully this will inspire them, make them dream, and hopefully the next generation can reach the same level or maybe even win a medal - that would be amazing.”
There would be few current swimmers outside of Schreuders and the United States of America’s Michael Andrew that are so strong across both strokes, but despite his breaststroke success in Doha, Schreuders intends to switch back to freestyle for the Paris Olympics.
“I just qualified for the 50m Freestyle in December, and I have just now qualified for the 100m Freestyle, so after this meet I will be just focusing on Paris and who knows maybe can make a final or semi final there as well,” said Schreuders.
Currently training in Marseille after a stint at college in the United States, Schreuders says while he loves training in France he wouldn’t quite call the upcoming Paris Olympics a ‘home games’.
“I wouldn't go that far, but yes it is very close to where I live, and I've already been a few times!”