Roos Vanotterdijk returns home to warm welcome after World Swimming Championship medals
Roos Vanotterdijk received a hero’s welcome at Brussels Airport on Tuesday morning after winning silver and bronze at the World Swimming Championships in Singapore. “It’s starting to sink in how exceptional it is,” she told Belga shortly after landing.
With her bronze in the 50-metre butterfly and silver in the 100-metre, the 19-year-old walked into the arrivals hall at 7:25, greeted by an unexpectedly large crowd. “This has exceeded my expectations. My parents said there would be a few people, but it’s a bit overwhelming here, trying to figure out who’s standing everywhere,” she said. “It’s wonderful to see the impact it’s had. I’m happy with this support, and it’s great that people are coming here to see me.”
Roos Vanotterdijk arriving at Brussels Airport on 5 August, 2025. © BELGA VIDEO EMIEL CARTER
"When I’m happy, the results will follow"
Vanotterdijk is still processing the significance of her achievements. “I don’t think it’s sunk in yet, not completely. That will take time. But I think it’s starting to sink in that it’s truly exceptional. I remain incredibly happy with my result; it’s something unique.”
Her success, she says, is the product of both discipline and joy. “It’s the result of hard work and enjoying what I do. That really worked out this year. I had a lot of fun, enjoyed everything. When I’m happy, the results will follow. Other years went well too, but in everything in life, I believe you should enjoy what you do. You shouldn’t do it against your will if you put in the time.”
That mindset follows a more difficult chapter in her career, when she trained under Fred Vergnoux, a coach known for his demanding methods. “I think it’s just the result of living life; those are life lessons. They help me move forward.”
Coach Faber's support
Her current coach, the Dutch Mark Faber, who also led the full Belgian team in Singapore, praised her development. “You can’t think in terms of ceilings,” he said. “She’s the youngest in the entire field, so she still has a lot of potential.”
Faber was visibly moved by the support Vanotterdijk received on arrival. “When you arrive at the airport at this early hour and there are so many people, it’s very special. I think it’s great that Roos is being recognised like this; she absolutely deserves it.”
He believes her happiness has played a crucial role. “Athletes should be carefree; if they are, you can have fun and make progress. Roos had a lot of fun this year and raced a lot, which she loves. That was also an important part.”
Looking ahead, Faber is cautious but optimistic. “At this level, everything is so close together. The progress will be a little smaller in the coming phase, but every hundredth counts. There’s still a lot of room for improvement.”
He also praised the wider Belgian team, saying, “They swam a lot of semifinals and personal bests, and in some cases even Belgian records. We can look back with pride.” He hopes future championships will include a strong relay team. “We have some very talented swimmers in the country, and we really want to include them in this whole process.”
First: rest
Back in her hometown of Houthalen-Helchteren, plans are underway to celebrate Vanotterdijk’s achievements, though details are still being worked out. For now, the focus is on rest. “Today I’m just going to go home and rest. Then take a vacation and let everything settle down,” she said. “It’s easy to overlook all this because of questions about my next goals. But it’s important to pause and realise that this is very unique and to enjoy this moment.”
#FlandersNewsService | Roos Vanotterdijk after finishing third in women’s 50 metres butterfly swimming final at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on 2 August, 2025 © PHOTO JOEL MARKLUND / BELGA
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