Dutch Swimmer Arno Kamminga Makes Waves With Daring Swimsuit At Paris Olympics: ‘Is This Legal?’

The swimming competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics saw an unexpected splash of controversy, as Dutch athlete Arno Kamminga caught the eye of spectators worldwide with his attention-grabbing swimsuit choice.

Kamminga, 28, took to the pool for the men’s 100m breaststroke event sporting a uniquely designed swimsuit that left viewers doing double-takes. The suit, featuring a flesh-toned orange base adorned with a pattern of small dots, created an optical illusion that, from certain camera angles, gave the impression the athlete was competing in a little more than his birthday suit.

Social media platforms quickly lit up with reactions from stunned fans. “Name???” questioned one viewer, seemingly at a loss for words. Another exclaimed, “IN PUBLIC? IS THIS LEGAL?” capturing the shock and amusement shared by many.

The unusual swimsuit got a lot of attention. One observer drew parallels between the swimsuit’s dotted pattern and Aboriginal art, while also praising the patriotic flair of the orange hue – a nod to the Netherlands’ national color. “Genuine thoughts based on the Dutch swim trunks,” the fan said, “1. Netherlands must be a fan of Aboriginal dot paintings 2. I also thought it was weird he was only wearing speedos 3. How very patriotic that he would develop orange Chicken Pox.”

Despite this Kamminga maintained his focus in the pool. The Dutch swimmer powered through the water to clinch second place in his event, clocking an impressive time of 59.12 seconds. This performance demonstrated that beneath the eyebrow-raising exterior lay the heart of a serious competitor.

Kamminga wasn’t the only male swimmer who was setting social media on fire – French diver Jules Bouyer had fans talking about his Speedo bulge.