Britta STEFFEN

Britta Steffen is a freestyle swimmer who was twice Olympic and World Champion, and also won nine European titles (four in Long-Course and five in Short-Course). In 2006 and in 2009 she broke the 100 metre freestyle world record and is the current record holder as of January 2012. After the 2004 Olympics, she took one year off from swimming and concentrated on her studies, which she has not yet finished, in economic engineering for the environment and sustainability. In 2011 she left the World Championships ahead of time after a disappointing 16th place in the heats of the 100 metres freestyle, and was harshly criticized by her former teammate Franziska van Almsick and the German media. At the 2006 European Championships there were rumors in the international media about possible doping practices, but she has never failed a doping test. She lives and trains in Berlin. In 2008 she was chosen as German Sportswoman of the Year, placing second in 2006 and 2009.