July 4

The first woman ever to get inside 52sec three times over 100m freestyle, Dutch sprinter Marrit Steenbergen just made it four, her 51.82 at Dutch Championships in her home pool in Eindhoven a hand shy of the 51.68 World record she clocked at the Sette Colli in Rome a week ago:

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

Out in 24.93, home in 26.89, the 2024 and 2025 World champion coached in Eindhoven by Patrick Pearson had also swam times of 51.86 and 51.97 before she took down Sarah Sjöström's global standard of 51.71 from 2017. Before her sub-52 bull run this season, only four women had ever swim inside 52 in history, and then only once apiece. American Anna Moesch became No 5 just before Steenbergen became No6 on her rapid rise to all-time No 1 on a single swim and the count of sub-52s.

Steenbergen had already won the 50 back yesterday and, the day before that, had also taken down the Dutch 100 back record in 58.33.

In other action, Alabama-based Sean Niewold followed a Dutch 50 'fly mark with a best-time 47.97 victory in the 100 free. to win the 100 freestyle. Out in 23.1, home in 24.78, he finished a class apart, Merlin Belmon closest in 48.90.

That made Niewold Dutch all-time No3 behind the 2000 and 2004 Olympic champion Pieter van den Hoogenband (47.68, in half shiny, Beijing 2008; his textile best also No1, 47.84, Sydney 2000) and Sebastiaan Verschuren (47.88).

The 200m breaststroke titles in Eindhoven went to the favourites, Caspar Corbeau and Tes Schouten, he on 2:08.75, she on 2:21.71.

• RESULTS IN FULL

July 3

Steenbergen Dashes To 27.4 Back Best

In-form season breaker Marrit Steenbergen claimed her second title of the Dutch Championships at home in Eindhoven with a 27.40 personal best in the 50m backstroke the day after a 58.33 Dutch mark in the 100m.

Closest to her came Tessa Giele (27.67) and Maaike de Waard (27.74), all three inside the cut for Paris 2026 European Championships, August 10-16.

In other action, Ted Schouten booked her ticked to the Paris 100m in 1:06.37. That puts her back own the Dutch team two years after she claimed bronze in the 200m at the Paris 2024 Olympics ahead of being hospitalised in November 2024 suffering from nerve pain and loss of function on the left side of her body.

After taking most of 2025 out in recovery and rehabilitation, she returned to racing early this year.

Meanwhile, Imani de Jong raced inside 1:58 for the first time to book a ticket to Paris in 1:57.79 as 200m free champion. The men's equivalent crown went to Martin Belmon, inside cut at 1:48.20.

• RESULTS IN FULL

Italy Heads To Paris 2026 With 48-Strong Squad

Italy has selected a 48-strong squad for the European Championships in Paris next month. Here they are:

Men:

1. Lorenzo Ballarati
2. Jacopo Barbotti
3. Federico Burdisso
4. Michele Busa
5. Andrea Camozzi
6. Thomas Ceccon
7. Simone Cerasuolo
8. Carlos D’Ambrosio
9. Luca De Tullio
10. Marco De Tullio
11. Daniele Del Signore
12. Leonardo Deplano
13. Matteo Diodato
14. Manuel Frigo
15. Lorenzo Gargani
16. Giovanni Guatti
17. Michele Lamberti
18. Francesco Lazzari
19. Christian Mantegazza
20. Davide Marchello
21. Nicolò Martinenghi
22. Filippo Megli
23. Alessandro Miressi
24. Alessandro Ragaini
25. Alberto Razzetti
26. Ludovico Blu Art Viberti

Women:

1. Giada Alzetta
2. Lisa Angiolini
3. Matilde Biagiotti
4. Alessia Bianchi
5. Paola Borrelli
6. Anita Bottazzo
7. Elena Capretta
8. Costanza Cocconcelli
9. Sara Curtis
10. Chiara Della Corte
11. Silvia Di Pietro
12. Anita Gastaldi
13. Alexandra Mao
14. Anna Chiara Mascolo
15. Emma Virginia Menicucci
16. Sofia Morini
17. Bianca Nannucci
18. Benedetta Pilato
19. Anna Pirovano
20. Simona Quadarella
21. Chiara Tarantino
22. Federica Toma