Enter Arno Kamminga of the Netherlands, who competed in the Men’s 100m Breaststroke on Day 1 of swimming and wowed social media with his eye-catching swim shorts. Despite finishing second, Kamminga captivated the internet with his distinctive swimsuit. The 28-year-old athlete competed in the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Paris La Defense Arena in Nanterre, France, on Saturday (July 27), wearing a tightly fitted, eye-catching pair of trunks.
The Netherlands used a flesh-colored orange on the thighs of their trunks, creating an optical illusion that left Arno almost exposed, according to News.com.au. This audacious decision astonished social media, with one user posting on X (previously known as Twitter): “Definitely watching for the sport.” Another merely inquired, “Name???”
A different user shouted, “IN PUBLIC?” “IS THIS LEGAL?” Historically, Olympic swimmers wore suits that covered as little flesh as possible, with shaving the entire body being the major way for increasing speed through the water. According to NBC Olympics, the “bodysuit revolution” began with the 1996 Atlanta Games. At those Games, neck-to-knee swimsuits made their debut, with numerous medalists using Speedo’s Aquablade style.
By the 2000 Sydney Games, swimmers were wearing suits that covered the majority of their bodies, raising discussion about whether these suits improved performance. Swimming’s governing body, World Aquatics, declined to ban these suits, resulting in widespread acceptance. By the 2004 Games, Speedo’s Fastskin suit had gained popularity among gold medalists, and the 2008 Beijing Games saw the introduction of Speedo’s LZR Racer, which was billed as the world’s fastest swimsuit due to its compressive, water-repellent, and chlorine-resistant fabric that reduced drag and streamlined the swimmer’s shape.
Despite coming second in the Men’s 100m Breaststroke event with a time of 59.12, Arno was quite disappointed with his performance, posting on Instagram: “Not what I came for,” accompanied by a broken heart emoji.Arno, a Katwijk local, also expressed alarm over a recent doping scandal involving 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for trimetazidine, a banned substance. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) acknowledged the reports in April, but accepted the findings of a Chinese inquiry that linked the positive tests to drug contamination.
Arno slammed the lack of openness, telling Reuters: “Everyone is questioning it, therefore it’s a lose-lose situation for everyone – for swimming fans and Chinese swimmers alike. “I believe it is difficult to judge or say anything without knowing everything.” While Arno’s trunks entertained many, other Olympic sportswear, particularly Team USA’s track and field suits, drew criticism. Nike’s risqué attire stirred uproar in April, with charges of misogyny and concerns about practicality.
Lauren Fleshman, a retired US world champion runner, expressed her displeasure on Instagram, saying, “I’m sorry, but show me one WNBA or NWSL team that would enthusiastically support this kit.” Women’s kits should enhance mental and physical performance. If this clothing genuinely improved physical performance, men would wear it. This is not an elite track and field kit. This is a costume created by patriarchal forces that are no longer welcome or necessary to focus attention on women’s sports.”