Marrit Steenbergen Doubles at Bergen Swim Festival

Marrit Steenbergen Doubles at Bergen Swim Festival; Outduels Siobhan Haughey in 100 Freestyle

The first occasion of the Day Two finals on the Bergen Swim Festival offered fast fireworks, as Dutchwoman Marrit Steenbergen and Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey engaged in a stellar duel within the 100-meter freestyle. Ultimately, Steenbergen acquired the sting on Haughey, as she prevailed in a season-best efficiency of 52.33. Haughey was simply behind in 52.40, the second-fastest mark of the 2026 marketing campaign.

Haughey constructed a slight benefit throughout the opening size, as she made the flip in 25.31, with Steenbergen splitting 25.49 for the entrance half of the race. But down the stretch, Steenbergen narrowly pulled forward, on the power of a closing leg of 26.84. Haughey put collectively a 27.09 cut up for her final 50 meters. Steenbergen was simply .07 off her profession finest, the Dutch file of 52.26 she recorded en path to gold on the 2024 World Championships in Doha.

The Dutch star was additionally the world champion within the 100 freestyle final summer season in Singapore, and continues to construct momentum within the occasion on the highway to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. She has medaled within the 100 freestyle on the final three editions of the World Champs, a bronze within the occasion grabbed in 2023 in Fukuoka.

Steenbergen was again on the blocks later within the session within the 200 particular person medley, which she received by greater than three seconds. Steenbergen touched the wall in 2:11.60, with Sweden’s Hanna Bergman putting second in 2:14.61. Haughey got here again later within the session to win the 50 breaststroke in 30.78.

Lukas Märtens Cruises to Title in 200 Freestyle

Coming off a German file within the 200 backstroke on Friday night time, Lukas Märtens sped away from the sector within the 200 freestyle throughout Saturday motion. Märtens checked in with a time of 1:45.67, which was comfortably forward of the 1:46.41 turned in by Sweden’s Robin Hansen. Märtens led wire to wire whereas setting the stage for Sunday’s 400 freestyle, an occasion by which he’s the world-record holder.

Märtens owns a profession finest within the 200 freestyle of 1:44.14 and his efforts on the Bergen Festival counsel a giant summer season may very well be on the horizon for the 24-year-old. This summer season, Märtens might be concentrating on the European Championships in Paris, town the place the German claimed Olympic gold in 2024 within the 400 freestyle.

Van Mathias Continues to Flash Speed

On the heels of changing into the second-fastest American within the historical past of the 100 breaststroke, Van Mathias dialed up a sub-23 outing to win the 50 butterfly. Mathias posted a swim of twenty-two.99 to defeat countryman Dare Rose, who was second in 23.16. Mathias entered the race driving a wave of momentum, due to a 58.19 marker within the 100 breaststroke from Friday night time.

Although finest recognized for her capability within the freestyle occasions, notably the 200 distance, American Anna Peplowski shined in a secondary occasion. Peplowski coated her 4 laps of the 200 backstroke in 2:08.96 to win the occasion by greater than 5 seconds. Peplowski was solely .06 off her finest within the occasion, which was registered earlier this 12 months in Pro Series competitors.

Sweden’s Louise Hansson simply received the ladies’s 100 butterfly, as she was the one swimmer to interrupt the 58- or 59-second limitations. Hansson clocked a time of 57.63, which was effectively forward of the 59.02 from countrywoman Sara Junevik.

In different motion, Finland’s Matti Mattsson secured victory within the 200 breaststroke, as his swim of two:12.11 was .03 quicker than the two:12.14 of runnerup Adam Chillingworth (Hong Kong). The United States’ Luke Barr topped the sector within the males’s 100 backstroke in 54.69 and Czechia’s Michal Judickij (4:19.48) was quickest within the 400 IM. Norway’s Henrik Christiansen (15:21.45) completed forward of the sector within the 1500 freestyle.