Marrit Steenbergen Swims 58.33 100 Backstroke, One of Three National Records on Night 1 at Dutch Trials
Five days after breaking a long-standing world record in the women’s 100 freestyle, Marrit Steenbergen of the Netherlands has produced another electric performance at her country’s selection meet for the European Championships. Steenbergen was one of three swimmers to lower a national record Thursday evening in Eindhoven.
Steenbergen won the 100 backstroke in 58.33, taking down the Dutch record of 58.65 set by Kira Toussaint in 2021. The performance moved Steenbergen into a tie with 2012 Olympic champion Missy Franklin for 15th all-time in the event, and she ranks sixth in the world for 2026. She sits within striking distance of the European record of 58.08, a mark set by Great Britain’s Kathleen Dawson in 2021, although it’s unclear if and when Steenbergen would actually contest the 100 back at a major meet. Here, Maaike de Waard joined Steenbergen under the 1:00-barrier with a time of 59.40.
Sean Niewold recorded a strong performance in the men’s 50 butterfly, clocking 22.69 to edge out the previous Dutch mark of 22.72 held by Nyls Korstanje. Niewold’s time ranks second in this year’s world rankings behind Russia’s Egor Kornev and leaves him 11th best in history. Leading the pack behind the University of Alabama-trained Niewold were Thomas Verhoeven (23.38) and British visitor Kieran Grant (23.47).
In the men’s 50 breaststroke, Koen de Groot ripped off a time of 26.68 to take the win and lower his previous national record of 26.71. This new record swim ranks de Groot in a tie for 21st all-time and ninth-best this year. De Groot is coming off a strong collegiate season at the University of Florida, where he finished fourth in the 100-yard breast and helped the Gators to a pair of top-three finishes in medley relays. Here, he beat out accomplished veterans Caspar Corbeau (27.34) and Arno Kamminga (27.55).
The women’s 50 fly featured a tie as Tessa Giele and Kim Busch clocked equal marks of 25.93, with Jinth Engelse third in a Dutch youth record of 26.82. British visitor Lucy Fox topped the 400 free in 4:11.08 ahead of Dutch swimmer Marte Hieke van der Kamp (4:12.10). Belgium’s Roos Vanotterdijk, a two-time World Championships medalist in butterfly, swam a winning time of 2:12.12 in the 200 IM.
Kai Van Westering won an exciting race in the men’s 200 back, overcoming an enormous deficit that reached 1.74 seconds at the halfway point and 1.41 with 50 meters remaining. Van Westering finished in 1:58.98 to defeat Hendrick van der Leest (1:59.39). German Arne Schubert was the only swimmer under 3:50 in the men’s 400 free (3:49.89).