Bold statement: Marrit Steenbergen’s 2:01.83 in the 200m IM at the 2025 European Short Course Championships isn’t just another win—it’s a landmark moment that reshapes the event’s history. And this is the part most people miss: her performance marks a third European record set at the Lublin meet, underscoring a remarkable surge in form that captured the spotlight across multiple strokes.
At the Lublin pool, the Netherlands’ Steenbergen delivered a commanding race, blasting to the wall to clock 2:01.83 and securing gold with a margin of nearly three seconds over the field. Ireland’s Ellen Walshe claimed silver with 2:04.78, while Israel’s Anastasia Gorbenko earned bronze in 2:05.32. Steenbergen’s effort chipped 0.03 seconds off Katinka Hosszu’s long-standing European Record of 2:01.86, a mark Hosszu set back in 2014 at the Short Course World Championships. Notably, Steenbergen’s time sits just 0.20 behind Kate Douglass’s World Record of 2:01.63, established at the previous year’s Short Course Worlds.
Leading into this race, Steenbergen had already posted a lifetime best of 2:04.94 at the 2022 SC Worlds. Her sudden leap to 2:01.83 represents a leap of more than three seconds, transforming her into a top contender in the 200m IM and solidifying her status as the meet’s standout performer.
Steenbergen’s splits—26.90, 30.06, 35.79, 29.08—show a steady, relentless front-half surge followed by a strong finish, enabling her to push ahead early and maintain the advantage to the touch. The star swimmer now sits as the #2 performer in the event’s all-time rankings, trailing only Kate Douglass.
This victory adds to Steenbergen’s early dominance in Lublin, where she had already set European Records in the 200 freestyle (1:50.33) and the 100m IM (56.26) during the same championships. Her upcoming challenge in the session’s 100m freestyle heats further amplifies anticipation for what could be another record-fueled run.
Top finishers and marks:
- 1st: Marrit Steenbergen (NED) – 2:01.83 ER, CR (European Record, Championship Record)
- 2nd: Ellen Walshe (IRL) – 2:04.78
- 3rd: Anastasia Gorbenko (ISR) – 2:05.32
Context and implications:
- Steenbergen’s swim not only dethrones a 2014 record but also positions her as the second-fastest performer ever in the event, behind Kate Douglass’s World Record pace.
- The performance illustrates how European athletes are closing the gap with the world’s best in short course formats, signaling a shifting landscape for the event standings.
- With the 100m free to come, Steenbergen has a real shot at adding another landmark performance to her meet history, potentially redefining the sprint–IM balance for her career.
What do you think about Steenbergen’s rapid ascent in the 200m IM? Does this momentum signal a broader European surge that could challenge American dominance in the short course arena, or will Douglass’ still-standing World Record prove too formidable to topple this season?
