Doha (AFP) – Dutch swimmer Marrit Steenbergen claimed gold in the women’s 100m freestyle at the world championships in Doha on Friday.
Five months ahead of the Paris Olympics, Steenbergen, a bronze medallist in the event at the championships last year, won in 52.26sec.
That was 0.30sec faster than Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey, last year’s silver medallist, and a gold medallist in the 200m earlier this week. Australian Shayna Jack was third.
Haughey led at the turn with Steenbergen in fourth, but the Dutchwoman surged trough the field on the second lap to record the eighth fastest time in history.
Haughey said she “died a little bit” at the end.
Steenbergen, the reigning European champion in the event, collected her second gold medal of the week after helping the Netherlands to victory in the 4x100m freestyle relay.
The 24-year-old became the first Dutchwoman to be crowned champion since four-time Olympic champion Inge de Bruijn in 2001.
Last year’s winner, Australian Mollie O’Callaghan, is not competing in Doha, but is due to swim in Paris.
