Swimming, World Championships Doha 2024: Marrit Steenbergen storms to women's 100m freestyle title

The Dutch sprinter put in a perfect performance to win her first long course individual world title, ahead of Hong Kong, China's Siobhan Haughey in silver and Shayna Jack of Australia in bronze.

1 minBy Andrew Binner
Marrit Steenbergen celebrates after winning gold in the women's 100m freestyle at the Doha 2024 World Aquatics Championships

(2024 Getty Images)

Marrit Steenbergen delivered a sprinting masterclass to seal the women's 100m freestyle world title at the Doha 2024 World Aquatics Championships on Friday (16 February).

The Dutch swimmer continued her great form from the semi-finals where she was fastest overall, and unexpectedly dominated the first half of the race, ahead of in-form Siobhan Haughey.

Hong Kong, China's Haughey, who won the women's 200m freestyle crown on Wednesday, could not match her pace on the home straight, and settled for silver behind Steenbergen, who touched home in 52.26.

Australia's Shayna Jack completed the podium with bronze, while Kate Douglass of Team USA just missed the podium in fourth place, by 0.19 seconds.

"It's crazy, I did not expect 52.2! I was focussing on the first half of the race, as the back half is my specialty, and it worked out," Steenbergen said after.

The result caps a fantastic few days for the 24-year-old, who was part of the victorious Netherlands women's 4x100m freestyle relay team on Sunday.

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