Dutch Swimmer’s Daring Trunks Spark Online Frenzy at Olympics

What would the Olympics be without some meme-worthy moments?

Enter Arno Kamminga of the Netherlands, who made waves on social media during Day 1 of swimming by competing in the Men’s 100m Breaststroke in striking swim shorts.

Although Kamminga secured a silver medal, it was his choice of swimwear that truly caught the internet’s attention.

Competing at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Paris La Defense Arena on Saturday, July 27, in Nanterre, France, the 28-year-old athlete donned a tightly fitted, eye-catching pair of trunks. The Netherlands’ team, perhaps guided by a savvy public relations strategy, chose a flesh-colored orange for the thighs of their trunks, creating an optical illusion that made it seem as if Kamminga was almost naked, according to News.com.au.

This bold fashion statement quickly took social media by storm. One user on X (formerly known as Twitter) quipped, “Definitely watching for the sport,” while another simply inquired, “Name???” A different user humorously exclaimed, “IN PUBLIC? IS THIS LEGAL?”

Kamminga’s swimwear choice has become a viral sensation, adding a splash of humor and intrigue to the Olympic Games.

Historically, Olympic swimmers have worn suits designed to cover as little skin as possible, relying on shaving their entire bodies to reduce drag and enhance speed through the water. However, the 1996 Atlanta Games marked the dawn of the “bodysuit revolution,” as noted by NBC Olympics. During those Games, neck-to-knee swimsuits made their debut, with Speedo’s Aquablade model being worn by several medal winners.

By the time of the 2000 Sydney Games, swimmers had adopted suits that covered most of their bodies, sparking debates about whether these suits provided performance-enhancing benefits. Despite the controversy, the World Aquatics, swimming’s governing body, chose not to ban these suits, leading to their widespread use.

By the 2004 Athens Games, Speedo’s Fastskin suit had become popular among gold medalists. The 2008 Beijing Games saw the introduction of Speedo’s LZR Racer, which was acclaimed as the world’s fastest swimsuit. This suit featured compressive, water-repellent, and chlorine-resistant fabric designed to reduce drag and streamline the swimmer’s body.

Despite the advancements in swimsuit technology, results can still be disappointing. Arno Kamminga, who competed in the Men’s 100m Breaststroke at the 2024 Paris Games, finished second with a time of 59.12 seconds. Although this was a commendable performance, Arno expressed his disappointment with the result on Instagram, posting, “Not what I came for,” accompanied by a broken heart emoji.

Arno Kamminga, a native of Katwijk, also spoke out about a recent doping controversy involving 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) confirmed the positive tests in April but accepted the findings of a Chinese investigation that attributed the results to substance contamination. Arno criticized the lack of transparency surrounding the issue, telling Reuters, “Everyone is questioning it, so it’s a lose-lose situation for everyone – for swimming lovers but also for the Chinese swimmers themselves. I think it’s hard to judge or say anything without knowing everything.”

While Arno’s eye-catching trunks amused many viewers, other Olympic sports apparel faced criticism, particularly Team USA’s track and field uniforms. The revealing outfits, designed by Nike and unveiled in April, sparked controversy and accusations of sexism, with critics questioning their practicality and appropriateness.

Lauren Fleshman, a retired US world champion runner, expressed her disapproval on Instagram, stating, “I’m sorry, but show me one WNBA or NWSL team who would enthusiastically support this kit. Women’s kits should be in service to performance, mentally and physically. If this outfit was truly beneficial to physical performance, men would wear it. This is not an elite athletic kit for track and field. This is a costume born of patriarchal forces that are no longer welcome or needed to get eyes on women’s sports.”

What are your thoughts on the controversy surrounding Arno’s swim trunks and the other Olympic uniforms? Let us know what you think!