2024 WORLD AQUATIC CHAMPIONSHIPS
- February 11th – February 18th, 2024
- Doha, Qatar
- LCM (50m)
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- Day 1 Prelims Recap | Day 1 Finals Recap
- Day 2 Prelims Recap | Day 2 Finals Recap
- Day 3 Prelims Recap | Day 3 Finals Recap
- Day 4 Prelims Recap | Day 4 Finals Recap
- Day 5 Prelims Recap | Day 5 Finals Live Recap
Day five of the 2024 World Championships saw the women’s 100m freestyle semi-finals unfold with Dutch sprinter Marrit Steenbergen making a big-time statement.
Racing in semi #1, 24-year-old Steenbergen busted out a result of 52.53 to claim the top seed overall. She represented one of just two competitors to register a sub-53-second result, with Hong Kong’s 200m free champion Siobhan Haughey joining her in 52.92.
Top 8 from Day 5 100 Freestyle Semi-Finals:
- Marrit Steenbergen (NED) – 52.53
- Siobhan Haughey (HKG) – 52.92
- Anna Hopkin (GBR) – 53.12
- Shayna Jack (AUS) – 53.16
- Kate Douglass (USA) – 53.31
- Barbora Seemanova (CZE) – 53.76
- Kornelia Fiedkiewicz (POL) – 54.01
- Stephanie Balduccuni (BRA) – 54.07
As for Steenbergen, her time tonight checks in as a head-turning personal best. Entering the competition, her PB rested at the 52.71 she produced last year in Fukuoka to earn bronze at the 2023 World Championships.
Steenbergen’s 52.53 scorcher now registers as a new Dutch national record, overtaking Olympian Femke Heemskerk‘s previous mark of 52.69 put on the books in 2015.
Comparing the ace’s two swims, Steenbergen conserved more energy for the backhalf this time around, crushing her previous 2nd 50 by .40.d
| Steenbergen’s Old PB – 52.71 | Steenbergen’s New PB/Dutch Record – 52.53 | Heemskerk’s Old Dutch Record – 52.69 |
| 25.60 | 25.82 | 25.70 |
| 27.11 | 26.71 | 26.99 |
Steenbergen now ranks as the 10th-fastest women’s 100m freestyler of all time, bumping American Kate Douglass (52.57, 2023) off the list.
Top 10 Women’s LCM 100 Freestylers of All Time
- Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 51.71, 2017
- Emma Mckeon (AUS) – 51.96, 2021
- Siobhan Haughey (HKG) – 52.02, 2023
- Cate Campbell (AUS) – 52.03, 2018
- Simone Manuel (USA) – 52.04, 2019
- Britta Steffen (GER) – 52.07, 2009
- Mollie O’Callaghan (AUS) – 52.08, 2023
- Bronte Campbell (AUS) – 52.27, 2018
- Shayna Jack (AUS) – 52.28, 2023
- Marrit Steenbergen (NED) – 52.53, 2024
Steenbergen’s performance is encouraging for the Netherlands which is still seeking its sprint dominance since the days of now-retired Olympians Heemskerk and Ranomi Kromowidjojo.
Leading up to tonight’s performance, along with teammates Kim Busch, Janna van Kooten and Kira Toussaint, Steenbergen ripped a 52.35 anchor on the women’s 4x100m free relay giving them a surprise gold over silver medalists Australia and bronze medalists Canada.
Steenbergen is versatile beyond just freestyle, however. The five-time World Championships medalist placed 5th in the 200m IM earlier in the competition here as well.
Women’s Freestyle sprint is not dead \o/
Her pacing was very Mollie like. Will she be more aggressive in the final or is this her new race plan?
Very interesting. I have thought of the same things. Is the Mollie pacing going to become the wave of the future? Instead of using the start to get our fast, use start to swim even with the lowest amount of strategy. Just ideas, not sure if possible, gotta look at strengths and weakness of athlete
Marrit reminds me a lot of Britta Steffen. European Junior Champ who won everything in sight, started to stall at the senior level and took a break to finish studies (Britta one year, Marrit almost three), and came back roaring.
Had nothing to do with studies. But with shoulder troubles for a long period of time and some personal challenges. I have added an interview in Dutch, which I thought was very good to be so open as a real example for other young talents. https://www.helden.media/verhalen/marrit-steenbergen/ Google translate will be your friend.
The gap between 9th and 10th all time is fascinating
To be closer tomorrow?
.25 – exactly the same as between #1 and #2
I’m still quite surprised she didn’t swim the 2 free final when she had the opportunity when Li scratched.
Her 200m split in today’s relay of 1.54.89 suggests she would have won a medal.
I think Steenbergen scratched her reserve spot right after the semi. Then Ai became the first reserve, and Li decided to scratch before the final to let her teammate swim.