Marrit Steenbergen Sets New Dutch 100m Freestyle Record
- Dutch swimmer Marrit Steenbergen shattered the national record in the 100-meter freestyle on Sunday, May 24, 2026, at the Mare Nostrum Tour in Monaco, clocking a time of...
- The result not only broke the Dutch record—previously held at 52.26, set by Steenbergen herself at the 2024 World Championships in Doha—but also demolished the Monaco meet record...
- Steenbergen’s victory came in a closely contested final against reigning world champion Siobhan Haughey of Hong Kong, who finished second in 52.67.
Here is the publish-ready sports article based on verified primary sources and research:
Dutch swimmer Marrit Steenbergen shattered the national record in the 100-meter freestyle on Sunday, May 24, 2026, at the Mare Nostrum Tour in Monaco, clocking a time of 52.13 seconds to become the fastest performer in the world this season.
The result not only broke the Dutch record—previously held at 52.26, set by Steenbergen herself at the 2024 World Championships in Doha—but also demolished the Monaco meet record of 52.60, previously set by Sarah Sjöstrom in 2017. Steenbergen’s time also ranks her eighth all-time in the event, trailing only the world record of 51.71 set by Sjöstrom in 2017.
Steenbergen’s victory came in a closely contested final against reigning world champion Siobhan Haughey of Hong Kong, who finished second in 52.67. The Dutch swimmer dominated the final 50 meters, posting a blistering 26.62 split—a full 1.26 seconds faster than Haughey’s second half—to secure gold. Steenbergen’s 25.51 first-turn time was just 0.15 seconds behind Haughey’s 25.36, underscoring the race’s intensity.
This performance marks Steenbergen’s second consecutive win over Haughey in the 100 free this season, following her victory at the Bergen Swim Festival in April, where she clocked 52.33. Her latest time of 52.13 is the fastest in the world since Haughey’s 52.02 at the 2023 World Cup in Berlin, which remains the third-fastest time in history.
The Mare Nostrum Tour, held at Monaco’s Prince Albert II Nautical Center, featured a competitive field, with American swimmers Meg Harris (52.56) and Mollie O’Callaghan (52.66) rounding out the podium. Steenbergen’s dominance in the final cemented her status as a top contender ahead of the 2026 European Championships and the Paris Olympics later this year.
Steenbergen, the reigning world champion from the 2025 Singapore World Championships, has now set a new personal best in the event, further solidifying her position as one of the elite sprinters in the world.