Marrit Steenbergen produced the cutting edge of world-class delivery on day 2 here in Paris, a 51.90 victory in the 100m freestyle completing a triple pop championship records, one ion each round: 52.62, 52.44 and then the hammer that clobbered her opponents.

Out in 25.10, the 26-year-old coached by Patrick Pearson in Eindhoven, had company: teammate Milou Van Wijk: 25.08. The journey home kept the Dutch pincer either side of Italian Sara Curtis in place for a 1-2 Orange punch - just, as far as silver and bronzed went, 0.01sec the gap.

Gold was another matter: 0.81sec was the gap between mates after the World-record holder and World champion on the last two times of asking found well over half a second more speed in her tank on the way back to the start end. Van Wijk held Curtis off by the smallest of margins with a career best of 52.71, 0.2 faster than her previous high.

Before the championships, the fastest win ever in Euro l/c champs history was Sarah Sjöström's 52.67, from 2014. And before June, the Swedish ace held the world record at 51.71. Then this happened:

Steenbergen Shaves 0.03 Off Sjöström’s 2017 Standard For 51.68 WR In Rome 100 Free

“It’s surreal. That’s the right word. I’m incredibly proud of it, yet it still sounds strange to have the world record to my name. I am the fastest woman ever in the 100m freestyle. It still needs to sink in, but it’s absolutely true” - Marrit Steenbergen

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

The record was the only line in our history file that needed a tweak:

• Fastest win ever: Marrit Steenbergen 51.90, 2026
• Smallest winning margin: a dead heat — Heidi Pechstein tied Diana Wilkinson, 1962 (0.00s)
• Biggest winning margin: Yvonne Godard beat Willy den Ouden by 1.80s, 1931
• Tightest podium (gold→bronze): 1962 — also a dead heat, Pechstein to Ineke Tigelaar, 0.00s - the medals decided on judge's judgement.
• Most titles: Sarah Sjöström (SWE), 4
• Most medals: Femke Heemskerk (NED), 5 (1G/2S/2B)

Steenbergen had previously won gold in the 100m freestyle (53.24) at the 2022 Europeans in Rome. Steenbergen also broke the championship record she had set just last Monday.

Steenbergen said:

"I’m thrilled to win here, and my time is decent, too. In the final, it’s all about winning. I felt good. I don’t think it was a perfect race—and you need that to set a world record—but I still clocked a 51-second time. The first 50 metres didn't go quite the way I wanted. There was a lot of pressure on the final; everyone expected me to win, and then you actually have to deliver. I’m very happy I succeeded and got to win here. I’m swimming the relay later; I’ve done that before after an individual final. It gives me a lot of energy, so I’m looking forward to swimming with the team."

Van Wijk's take:

"I’m incredibly happy. I had hoped to make the podium beforehand. I managed to do it, so I’m delighted. At international tournaments, I often come close to a personal best, and I achieved that today, shaving off 0.2 seconds. I gave it my all, especially in the last 15 meters, which were tough. This is the absolute best I can do right now. I saw I was slightly ahead and went all out for a podium spot. It’s very important for my career; it represents a mental step forward. I’ve finished fourth or fifth a few times, so I’m really enjoying the fact that I’ve won an individual medal at a major championship."

Meanwhile, Steenbergen was not done: the warm-up done, she rested, then waited as her Dutch mates raced her into a good place for a serious challenge at the back end of the Mixed Medley 4x100m final:

Grousset Claims Silver Then Mixed Gold With French Mates

Silver in the 50 ’fly as the first man home and only man on the podium with a nation next to his name was followed by gold in the Mixed medley relay in a host-nation victory that raised the rafters at the Paris pool

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord