CCB

No, unfortunately, the Dutch Judo Association has already appointed Franssen, after Vermeer suffered a serious injury in 2019. In retrospect, that was not so smart, because Vermeer has been much better than Franssen this whole year. But yes, the Dutch Judo Association often makes blunders ... for example sending Sanne van Dijke to the Olympics instead of Kim Polling without convincing arguments. If the differences are small, a tie-breaker would be the best solution (like Japan did in the men's -66kg).

Will the draw be 1-8, 4-5, 3-6 and 2-7 in quarterfinals? Or will the top 8 placed randomly?

Niet te vergeten het wereldrecord van Ilse Paulis en Marieke Keijser in de lichte dubbeltwee op de wereldbeker roeien in Italië! Is een beetje ondergesneeuwd in al het sportgeweld van vandaag. Het slechtste nieuws van vandaag is wat mij betreft de (op het oog vrij ernstige) schouderblessure van Nycke Groot, die nét deze week aangaf haar carrière als handbalster in Tokio te willen afsluiten, maar nu waarschijnlijk al is uitgespeeld.

But on the other hand, Nycke Groot will make a comeback in the Dutch team and replace Estavana Polman at the Games. And she's already vaccinated!

1. I love to see everything, but this year especially track cycling (men's sprint), hockey (both men and women) and handball (women). 2. 3. From a Dutch point of view: Inge de Bruijn (swimming, 2000-2004), men's volleyballteam (1996) and Epke Zonderland (high bar, 2012) My favourite foreign athletes: Pernille Blume (swimming) , Carolina Kluft (heptathlon) and Anni Friesinger (speedskating)

Voor mij zeer verrassend. Dat hele OKT is een beetje langs me heen gegaan, omdat ik de meerkamp in Götzis van de eerste tot de laatste minuut gevolgd heb. Maar leuk voor die gasten dat ze erbij zijn in Tokio. Vooral de overwinning op de VS klinkt mij als verrassend in de oren. En ik lees dat de dames volgende week nog een kans hebben op het laatste OKT. Dus deze week zes nieuwe namen in de Olympische ploeg: 4 basketballers, Diane van Es en Anouk Vetter.

Didn't even know that The Netherlands had a chance to qualify for this sport. Nicely done by the Dutch team. Very very unexpected

Netherlands won't try the 4x200 meter. They concentrated on the 4x100 free.

En wéér een blessure, nu in de categorie hamstring: Lidewij Welten. En ook weer dé vedette van het betreffende team, in dit geval hockey. Wie wordt de volgende? Als Danielle van der Donk of Lieke Martens een been breekt, en waterpoloster Sabrina van der Sloot een arm, missen al onze damesteams hun beste en spelbepalende speelster. Kiki Bertens lijkt de Spelen trouwens ook niet te gaan halen. Als ze al blessurevrij is, gaat ze denk ik geen risico nemen om op een hardcourtbaan haar achillespezen verder kapot te maken. Demi Schuurs kan denk ik beter met Arantxa Rus gaan dubbelen.

I really really really hope The Netherlands will win this (men's), but I refuse to believe it. GB will be the best again at the right moment. For me as a sports fan, the Games are a success when the men win this gold!!

Sharon van Rouwendaal wins the women's 10K. It's the first time since 2018 (ECh Glasgow) that she shows what an unbelievable swimmer she is. On Sunday she'll race the 25K ... I get tired just thinking about it. But Sharon loves it :-).

Nou inderdaad, de knie van Van Dijk had ik nog even helemaal over het hoofd gezien. Amega revalideert nog van haar knieblessure, het is te hopen dat ze vóór de OS nog een paar wedstrijdjes kan spelen. En anders moeten we het doen met Larissa Nüsser als spelmaker. Zij schijnt erg goed te zijn, maar in Oranje komt het er voor mijn gevoel niet uit. Dan zou ik nog eerder de ervaren Harma van Kreij meenemen. Misschien niet het grootste talent, maar wel altijd heel steady. Eva de Goede heeft gelukkig niks aan haar knie. Bij haar is de pols gebroken. Wordt óók krap, maar haalbaar! Hopelijk wordt de lijst dit jaar niet té groot. Tot dusver als echte afvallers genoteerd: Polman, Floris Wortelboer

Het knieën-nieuws is nauwelijks bij te houden: judoka Tessie Savelkouls is terug op de tatami en denkt zelf(s) de Olympische Spelen nog te halen. En vervolgens raakt Estavana Polman weer geblesseerd; zo zuur voor haar. Train je je maanden het rambam om te herstellen van een ernstige blessure, lijk je de Spelen toch nog te gaan halen en gaat het alsnog. Echt waardeloos (ook voor het team).

Netherlands will miss their star player Estavana Polman. She had just returned from a knee injury that lasted months, in one of her first matches for her team Esbjerg tragedy struck again (yesterday). She will not compete at the Games. Sorry for her, but also a big problem for the Dutch team. They are nowhere without her. It's not without reason I have her in my profile picture: she is such an amazing player!

De best denkbare selectie om de Amerikaanse Chloe Dygert van het goud te houden in de wegwedstrijd.

Yes indeed. Laura Smulders looked a bit absent yesterday, but today her starts were much better. Her younger sister Merel became 4th today, enough for her to qualify for Tokio. Laura Smulders, Merel Smulders and Judi Baauw will represent at the Games. Niek Kimmann showed some signs of recovery. In the semifinal his start was phenomenal, but in the final he did not get off to a good start. Surprisingly he still finished third.

But Kimmann didn't convince at all; he lost it at the start in each heat. It seems to be structural, because last week in the European Cup happened the same. Was moving to Switzerland wise? Unfortunately world champion Twan van Gendt has a shoulder injury. Not sure which riders take the second and third spot. At the ladies side Laura Smulders didn't convince with her starts as well. But Baauw and Merel Smulders were strong today. Looks like Merel Smulders will take the third available spot.

A nice end of the tournament for the Dutch relays. A very interesting win for the men's 4x400, although they can't compete with US, Jamaica, GB and Trinidad at world level, but who knows ... The women 4x100; what the hell happened with Sedney? And the women 4x400 ... I expected a lot more, but I think we miss Madiea Ghafoor (who's in jail at the moment) too much. Thereby Lieke Klaver is not in het best shape at the moment.

Indeed, GB will definitely win more than 20 gold medals. In swimming events they have realistic gold chances with Duncan Scott in several events, Adam Peaty in the 100 breast and the 4x100 medley men and mixed. In track cycling they will probably win all the events, but normally for sure women's omnium, madison, men's sprinting and pursuit. In rowing they have 6 very strong teams in the men's four, eight and double sculls, and women's light double sculls, quadruple sculls and pair. Only in these 3 sports I already count 14 gold medals. And don't forget GB has a very strong women's football team, I think GB is a team that can surprise the US.

Egonu yesterday in Champions League final ... WOW She is the reason I voted for Italy. I also expect a lot from Turkey.

I like rowing very much, especially in the Olympics. Back in London 2012, I visited Eton Dorney and enjoyed the races so much! Swimming is a close second for me, although I really don't like the longer freestyle distances.

Where is Vernyaev? Is he competing in Tokyo?

And how nice for Olympic champion Sanne Wevers who finally finished on the podium again after het ECh-gold in 2018. She can still improve her exercise, but not as much as many others. I don't expect an Olympic medal or even final for her, but still nice to see Sanne competes at the highest level.

Two of Netherlands' best players have a serious injury: Xan de Waard and Eva de Goede. Hopefully both can compete in Tokyo. The women have a good chance for the gold, but Germany always is a strong opponent and has improved a lot. At the men's side my choice is for Belgium: by far the strongest and most technical team in the world. I expect a lot from India as well. Hopefully the Dutch men will fight for a medal, but I dont like the coach at all. He refuses to select young players.

Favourites in my opinion at the men's side: Felix Remuta Julien Gobaux Noah Kuavita and Luka van den Keybus Casimir Schmidt Vahagn Davtyan All the gymnasts who did not compete in the Worlds 2019 (and are eligible to qualify)