Get ready for a thrilling tale of records shattered and reclaimed in the pool! The 2025 European Short Course Championships just witnessed a jaw-dropping battle in the women’s 50m backstroke, where Dutch swimming sensation Marrit Steenbergen and Italy’s rising star Sara Curtis traded European record titles like a high-stakes game of tag. But here’s where it gets even more intense: Steenbergen, the 25-year-old Olympian, wasn’t about to let her crown slip away without a fight.
The drama kicked off on the final day of competition in Lublin, Poland, where the championships unfolded from December 2-7, 2025. In the morning prelims of the women’s 4x50m medley relay, Steenbergen blazed through the water, setting a new European record of 25.64 seconds as the lead-off swimmer for the Dutch team. But hold on—this is the part most people miss: just hours later, 19-year-old Curtis, a University of Virginia standout, sliced that record down to 25.49 seconds on her way to clinching gold in the individual event. Talk about a one-two punch!
Fast forward to the final women’s 4x50m medley relay, and Steenbergen wasn’t ready to concede. With sheer determination, she smashed her own personal best, clocking an astonishing 25.47 seconds to reclaim the European record. And this is where it gets controversial: while Curtis’s performance was undeniably impressive, Steenbergen’s comeback raises questions about experience versus youth in high-pressure competitions. Which factor do you think weighs more in the pool?
Steenbergen’s new record not only solidifies her status as a Dutch legend but also catapults her to the 7th spot among the world’s all-time best performers in the women’s short course 50m backstroke. Here’s a look at the top 10:
- Regan Smith (USA) – 25.23, 2024
- Maggie MacNeil (CAN) – 25.25, 2022
- Kaylee McKeown (AUS) – 25.35, 2025
- Ingrid Borgstrom (NOR) – 25.36, 2025
- Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 25.37, 2024
- Mollie O’Callaghan (AUS) – 25.42, 2025
- Marrit Steenbergen (NED) – 25.47, 2025
- Katherine Berkhoff (USA) – 25.51, 2024
- Claire Curzan (USA) – 25.54, 2022
- Maria Kameneva (RUS) – 25.60, 2023
For those eager to dive deeper, the championships’ live results, psych sheets, and recaps are available online. And let’s not forget the swimmers at the heart of this story: Marrit Steenbergen and Sara Curtis, whose rivalry is shaping up to be one for the history books. But here’s the burning question: Will Curtis continue her meteoric rise, or will Steenbergen’s experience keep her on top? Sound off in the comments—we want to hear your take!
About the Author: Retta Race, a former Masters swimmer and coach, juggles her roles as an MBA holder, full-time IT professional, boutique owner, and swimming analyst for BBC. Her insights bring a unique blend of expertise and passion to every story she covers. Read More
