Marrit Steenbergen smashes 100m freestyle world record, first Dutch holder since 2000

Dutch swimmer Marrit Steenbergen shattered the women's 100-meter freestyle world record at the Settecolli Trophy in Rome, clocking an astonishing 51.68 seconds. This remarkable performance sliced three hundredths off the previous record set by Sweden's Sarah Sjöström in 2017.

Steenbergen's victory marks a significant moment, as she is the first Dutch woman to hold the 100m freestyle world record since Inge de Bruin in 2000. The 26-year-old swimmer has been in exceptional form, having twice broken the national record in May. Her personal best improved by 18 hundredths of a second in Rome, securing her the world title.

She finished ahead of Siobhan Haughey of Hong Kong (52.52) and Italy's Sara Curtis, who set a new Italian record with 52.69 seconds. Steenbergen, who previously won world championship titles in the 100m freestyle in 2023 and the 4x100m freestyle relay in 2024, now has her sights set on Olympic gold, the only major title missing from her collection.

Having finished seventh in the 100m freestyle at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Steenbergen is now considered the strong favorite for the upcoming European Championships in Saint-Denis, France, from August 10-16. Reflecting on her record-breaking swim, Steenbergen expressed disbelief, stating, "It feels so strange. I knew I was close, but when I saw the time on the screen, I wondered if it was real. And then the crowd started cheering and I realized it was real."

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It feels so strange. I knew I was close, but when I saw the time on the screen, I wondered if it was real. And then the crowd started cheering and I realized it was real.