European S/C Championships, Day 6 Prelims: Marrit Steenbergen Sets 50 Back CR & Rattles European Record On Medley Lead-Off
Marrit Steenbergen was within 0.04secs of adding the European 50 back record to her accolades this week on the leadoff for the Netherlands’ women’s medley relay in the final prelims session of the European Short Course Championships in Lublin, Poland.
Steenbergen was out in 12.80 and back in 12.84 to post a time of 25.64 which left her a sliver away from the continental record of 25.60 set by fellow Dutchwoman Kira Toussaint at the International Swimming League meet in Budapest in November 2020, which was then a world record. Toussaint, who retired this year after a fine career, matched that time a month later at the Amsterdam Christmas Meet.
Steenbergen’s time was a championship record, slicing 0.06 off the previous standard of 25.70 held by Sanja Jovanovic of Croatia since the 2009 edition in Istanbul as the supersuited era drew to a close. It helped guide the Netherlands into top spot for the final.
The Dutchwoman has rewritten the continental record books this week with new standards en-route to gold in the 100 and 200IM and 100 and 200 free. She also won gold with the women’s 4×50 free, a silver (4×50 mixed medley) and a bronze (4×50 mixed freestyle).
- Link to Eurovision/Live Coverage
- Results
- Entry Lists
- Day 1 Prelims Recap: Women
- Day 1 Prelims Recap: Men
- Day 1 Finals Recap
- Day 2 Prelims Recap
- Day 2 Finals Recap
- Day 3 Prelims Recap
- Day 3 Finals Recap
- Day 4 Prelims Recap
- Day 4 Finals Recap
- Day 5 Prelims Recap
- Day 5 Finals Recap
Women’s 400m Individual Medley
The two-per-nation rule intervened in the very first race of the session where Spanish women filled the top three slots. Alba Vasquez Ruiz topped the field by a clear margin as the only woman to go inside 4:33 in 4:32.56. She was followed by teammates Emma Carrasco Cadens (4:34.18) and Paula Gonzalez Miralles (4:34.34) with the latter missing out by 0.16. Ellen Walshe of Ireland – who won silver in the 200IM on Saturday – was third through in 4:34.60.
Men’s 400m Individual Medley
Jakub Bursa led the way in 4:04.68 followed by Lucas Henveaux who returned from his 800 free silver on Saturday evening to book lane five in 4:05.04, followed by Spain’s Diego Mira Albaladejo (4:05.24). Reigning champion Alberto Razzetti (4:05.29) and 2019 gold medallist Max Litchfield (4:05.47) also advanced. Zalan Sarkany, fresh from his 800 title, swam a 13-second PB to post 4:06.98 for seventh.
Women’s 4x50m Medley Relay
Steenbergen got the Netherlands quartet off to a flying start as they topped prelims in 1:44.75 followed by Germany (1:45.15) – featuring a 24.92 fly leg from Angelina Kohler – and reigning champions Sweden (1:45.16). Petra Senanszky split a 23.66 anchor leg to propel Hungary through in fourth followed by Great Britain., Poland, Italy – thanks to a 23.57 anchor from Silvia di Pietro – and Norway.
Men’s 4x50m Medley Relay
The top eight were separated by 0.70secs with the German quartet booking lane four for the final in 1:32.48 followed by Czechia (1:32.53) and Italy (1:32.64). Noè Ponti split a 21.43 fly leg as Switzerland progressed fourth in 1:32.71 with Heiko Gigler going 20.34 on anchor as Austria advanced in 1:32.74. Yohann Ndoye Brouard was on the freestyle leg for France who were next through.
