Hold onto your swim caps, because Marrit Steenbergen just set the pool ablaze in Lublin! The Dutch swimming sensation has shattered her third European record of the 2025 European Short Course Championships, leaving competitors in her wake and fans in awe. But here's where it gets even more thrilling: her time of 2:01.83 in the 200m Individual Medley (IM) not only smashed Katinka Hosszu’s decade-old record of 2:01.86 but also catapulted her into the history books as the second-fastest swimmer ever in this event—just a hair’s breadth behind Kate Douglass’s world record of 2:01.63. And this is the part most people miss: Steenbergen obliterated her own personal best by over three seconds, proving that records are made to be broken—sometimes spectacularly.
The 25-year-old Olympian dominated the race from the get-go, turning nearly two-tenths ahead at the 25-meter mark and never looking back. Her final time of 2:01.83 wasn’t just a win; it was a statement, leaving silver medalist Ellen Walshe of Ireland (2:04.78) and bronze medalist Anastasia Gorbenko of Israel (2:05.32) in her wake. But is Steenbergen’s dominance a sign of things to come, or will other swimmers rise to challenge her reign?
Steenbergen’s split times—26.90/30.06/35.79/29.08—showcase her relentless pace and strategic race management. This performance marks her third European record of the Championships, following her triumphs in the 200m freestyle (1:50.33) and 100m IM (56.26). With the 100m freestyle still to come, the question on everyone’s mind is: Can Steenbergen keep this momentum going, or will fatigue finally catch up to her?
For context, Steenbergen’s previous personal best in the 200m IM was 2:04.94, set at the 2022 Short Course Worlds. To shave over three seconds off that time is nothing short of extraordinary. But does this make her the undisputed queen of the pool, or is there still room for improvement? Let’s not forget Douglass’s world record, which Steenbergen narrowly missed. Could we see a showdown between these two swimming powerhouses in the future?
Here’s a breakdown of the top 8 finishers in the women’s 200m IM final:
1. Marrit Steenbergen (NED) – 2:01.83 (ER, CR)
2. Ellen Walshe (IRL) – 2:04.78
3. Anastasia Gorbenko (ISR) – 2:05.32
4. Freya Colbert (GBR) – 2:06.69
5. Katie Shanahan (GBR) – 2:06.69
6. Emma Carrasco Cadens (ESP) – 2:07.90
7. Anita Gastaldi (ITA) – 2:07.94
8. Tamara Potocka (SVK) – 2:09.77
The updated top 5 performances in the 200m IM now look like this:
1. Kate Douglass (USA) — 2:01.63, 2024
2. Marrit Steenbergen (NED) — 2:01.83, 2025
3. Katinka Hosszu (HUN) — 2:01.86, 2014
4. Kate Douglass (USA) — 2:02.12, 2022
5. Katinka Hosszu (HUN) — 2:02.13, 2014
As Steenbergen prepares for her next event, the swimming world is buzzing with anticipation. Is she the future of European swimming, or is this just the peak of her career? Weigh in below—do you think Steenbergen can break Douglass’s world record, or is it an unattainable feat? The debate is open, and the pool is waiting!
