Marrit Steenbergen confirmed her status as a world-class swimmer at the World Swimming Championships in Singapore on Friday. The 25-year-old swimmer, who has had mental issues in the past, won the world title in the 100-meter freestyle, just like last year.
Steenbergen came out of the pool in Singapore with a broad smile on Friday. Her mission was accomplished, just like last year.
Steenbergen lived up to her favorite status in Asia, and that on the most appealing number of swimming: the 100-meter freestyle. That distance has received the most attention for years, just like the 100-meter sprint in athletics.
Steenbergen is not sure whether prolonging the title will put an end to the doubts in her head. “You would say so, but unfortunately my head doesn’t work that way,” the modest Frisian told the NOS. “I always think that those other girls have a very different level than me. But I have to believe in myself. I can get a lot of confidence from this.”
Steenbergen made the difference in the last part of the race. She eventually finished 0.12 seconds earlier than the Australian Mollie O’Callaghan. “It was very exciting,” confirmed the world champion, who came to a time of 52.55. Last year in Doha she clocked 52.26.
‘When I touched, I thought: I got him’
“Normally I’m not that nervous at all, but now I am. I had the conviction: I can do this. But it had to happen today. I saw that I was really next to it, actually a bit in front of it, and when I touched, I thought: I got him.”
Steenbergen also climbed the highest step of the podium last year, then in Doha. An important note: a number of big names were missing then, because the Olympic Games in Paris were just around the corner.
“Which one is more beautiful? I can’t really choose, but this one is very beautiful because of the season I’ve had. Standing here after the Games makes me feel very good. The result at the Games was really a shame, because I wanted to compete for the medals. And with my PR that should have been possible. But we are here now.”
Steenbergen finished seventh in the Olympic final in Paris last year, which was somewhat disappointing. The gold then went to the Swedish Sarah Sjöström.