Marrit Steenbergen Scares Own World Record in 100 Freestyle at Dutch Champs; Sean Niewold Grabs Another Title
The sensational roll of Marrit Steenbergen continued at the Dutch Championships on Saturday, where the two-time world champion recorded her fourth sub-52-second performance of the year en route to victory in the 100-meter freestyle. Coming off a world-record performance at the Sette Colli Trophy, Steenbergen stormed to victory at the Dutch Champs in 51.82, the second-quickest effort of her career.
Steenbergen was out in 24.93 and came home in 26.89 for her latest blast, which was not far off her global standard of 51.68. Steenbergen has also checked in this year at 51.86 and 51.97, and is the only female athlete in history with multiple sub-52 performances. The gold medalist at the World Champs in 2024 and 2025, Steenbergen has etched herself as the overwhelming favorite for the event’s title at next month’s European Championships in Paris. Her time on Saturday is the third-fastest of all-time, trailing only her world record at the 51.71 of Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom from 2017.
Steenbergen headed into the 100 freestyle having already claimed a pair of wins, in the 50 backstroke and 100 backstroke. The victory in the 100 back was earned in a Dutch record of 58.33, and she carried that momentum into her prime event. By the turn, Steenbergen held a .87 lead over Milou van Wijk, who ended up in second place behind a time of 53.63.
Sean Niewold Dials Up Quick Effort in 100 Freestyle
Coming off a national record in the 50 butterfly from the opening day of the meet, Sean Niewold ripped a time of 47.97 to win the 100 freestyle. Niewold, who trains at the University of Alabama, split 23.19 for his outgoing lap and came home in 24.78 for a decisive triumph. Second place went to Merlin Belmon in 48.90.
Niewold’s time was good for a personal best and he sits No. 3 in Dutch history, trailing only Olympic legend Pieter van den Hoogenband (47.68) and Sebastiaan Verschuren (47.88). Niewold is entered in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly on Sunday, the final day of the meet.
Caspar Corbeau, Tes Schouten Cruise to Titles
Olympic bronze medalists Caspar Corbeau and Tes Schouten convincingly claimed victories in the 200-meter breaststroke events. Corbeau was in the pool first, racing to a win in 2:08.75, which was more than three seconds clear of German runnerup Kenneth Bock (2:11.89). Third place went to Arno Kamminga in 2:12.08.
Corbeau wasted no time in taking control of the race, as he opened in 28.68 and touched at the midway point of the race in 1:01.44. Corbeau had a lead of almost two seconds heading into the back half, and he added to his margin over the last two lengths to secure his ticket to the European Championships. In addition to his Olympic medal, Corbeau was the bronze medalist at the World Championships last summer in Singapore.
In the women’s race, Schouten basically raced against the clock, finishing in 2:21.71 to prevail by almost eight seconds. Schouten’s time is the fourth-fastest mark in the world this year, and her victory complemented an earlier triumph in the 100 breaststroke.
In Other Action…
There was a tight finish in the men’s 50 backstroke, with Giovanni Phillipson winning the event in 25.15, good for a Dutch youth record. He was followed to the wall by Noah Verreth (25.25) and Kai Van Westering (25.35).
Mexico’s Paulo Strehlke Delgado topped is competition in the men’s 1500 freestyle with a swim of 15:18.99.