Roos Vanotterdijk Clocks 24.84 In 50 Fly, Sets Belgian Record For Third Time In 36 Hours

2025 EUROPEAN SHORT COURSE CHAMPIONSHIPS

• December 2-7, 2025
• Lublin, Poland
• SCM (25 meters)
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• Live Recaps:
  • Prelims: Day 1 | Day 2
  • Finals: Day 1 | Day 2

WOMEN’S 50 BUTTERFLY – Final

• WR: 23.72 – Gretchen Walsh (USA), 2025
• WJR: 24.55 – Claire Curzan (USA), 2021
• ER: 24.38 – Therese Alshammar (SWE), 2009
• EJR: 25.06 – Martine Damborg (DEN), 2025
• CR: 24.50 – Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2021

Top 8

1. Martine Damborg (DEN) – 24.61
2. Roos Vanotterdijk (BEL) – 24.84
3. Beryl Gastaldello (FRA) – 24.93
4. Maaike de Waard (NED) – 24.97
5. Louise Hansson (SWE) – 25.13
6. Angelina Köhler (GER) – 25.14
7. Neza Klancar (SLO) – 25.16
8. Silvia Di Pietro (ITA) – 25.36

Roos Vanotterdijk lowered her Belgian Record in the women’s 50 butterfly for the second time in 24 hours, touching in 24.84 to win silver and claim her first European Short Course Championships medal. She finished behind Denmark’s Martine Damborg, who won gold in a new European Junior and Danish Record time of 24.61, while France’s Beryl Gastaldello claimed bronze in 24.93.

The 20-year-old’s time bettered the 25.06 she posted in yesterday’s semifinals, which itself improved on the 25.20 from the prelims, breaking her previous record of 25.41 set during the World Cup circuit in October.

Vanotterdijk moved from 30th to 22nd all-time with her swim and now ranks #4 in the world for the 2025-26 season, trailing World Record holder Gretchen Walsh (23.72), Oceanian Record holder Alexandria Perkins (24.60), and Damborg:

Vanotterdijk is building on the momentum of a standout 2025 long course season. At the European U23 Championships in July, she collected gold in the 50 fly, 100 fly, and 50 back, plus silver in the 100 back. She then broke through at World Championships with two individual medals: a silver in the 100 fly (55.84) and a bronze in the 50 fly (25.32). Her 100 fly silver on day two marked Belgium’s first World Championships medal since 1998, seven years before she was born.

This is her second season training with high-profile coach Mark Faber, who took over as the head of the Flemish Swimming Federation last November.

She is undoubtedly the most versatile female swimmer in Europe, and one of the most versatile swimmers in the world. She currently holds 13 Belgian Records across each of the four strokes and IM: seven in short course and six in long course.

See a full list of her national records below.

Short Course Meters:

• 50 back – 26.43 (2025, World Cup Westmont)
• 100 back – 56.78 (2024, Belgian Championships)
• 200 breast – 2:18.07 (2025, Belgian Championships)
• 50 fly – 24.84 (2025, European Championships)
• 100 fly – 55.64 (2025, World Cup Carmel)
• 100 IM – 57.41 (2025, World Cup Westmont)
• 200 IM – 2:05.81 (2025, World Cup Toronto)

Long Course Meters:

• 100 free – 53.62 (2025, Flanders Cup)
• 50 back – 27.67 (2025, World Championships)
• 100 back – 58.97 (2025, Flanders Cup)
• 50 fly – 25.32 (2025, World Championships)
• 100 fly – 55.84 (2025, World Championships)
• 200 IM – 2:09.73 (2025, French Championships)

Vanotterdijk is one of seven swimmers competing for Belgium this week, and she is entered in the 100 IM, 200 free, 100 fly, 200 breast, 100 back, 200 IM, 50 back, and 50 free. While she probably won’t swim all of these events, she is a legitimate medal threat in each.