Hold onto your swim caps, because the 2025 European Short Course Championships just delivered a record-breaking showdown that will have swimming fans talking for years! In a thrilling back-and-forth battle, Dutch swimming legend Marrit Steenbergen reclaimed the women’s 50m backstroke European record, but not before a young Italian star briefly stole the spotlight. And this is the part most people miss: it all unfolded during the medley relay, a team event that often flies under the radar compared to individual races.
The stage was set in Lublin, Poland, from December 2-7, 2025, where the world’s top swimmers gathered for this high-stakes competition. For those eager to dive into the details, here’s where you can find everything: the official meet central (https://europeanaquatics.org/swimming-short-course-lublin-2025/), psych sheets (https://swimswam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/EntryList202511251343.pdf), live results (https://www.omegatiming.com/2025/european-aquatics-short-course-swimming-championships-live-results), and daily recaps of both prelims and finals (https://swimswam.com/2025-european-sc-championships-day-1-finals-live-recap/).
The drama began in the morning prelims of the women’s 4x50m medley relay. Steenbergen, a 25-year-old Olympian known for her precision and power, set a new European record of 25.64 seconds as the lead-off swimmer for the Dutch team. But here’s where it gets controversial: just hours later, 19-year-old Sara Curtis, a rising star from the University of Virginia, shattered Steenbergen’s record with a jaw-dropping 25.49 seconds en route to winning gold in the individual 50m backstroke event. Was Curtis’s youth and collegiate training giving her an edge over the seasoned Olympian? It’s a question that’s sure to spark debate.
Fast forward to the final session of the championships, and Steenbergen wasn’t ready to concede. In the women’s 4x50m medley relay final, she unleashed a lifetime best of 25.47 seconds, reclaiming the European record and cementing her place as the seventh-fastest woman in history in this event. Her performance not only broke the Dutch national record but also highlighted the relentless spirit of a champion refusing to be outdone.
Speaking of history, here’s where Steenbergen now stands among the all-time greats in the women’s short course 50m backstroke:
- 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
This rivalry between Steenbergen and Curtis is more than just a battle of times—it’s a clash of experience versus youth, tradition versus innovation. Does Curtis’s rapid rise signal a changing of the guard, or will Steenbergen’s resilience keep her at the top? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. And while you’re at it, check out more about these incredible athletes: Marrit Steenbergen (https://swimswam.com/bio/marrit-steenbergen/) and Sara Curtis (https://swimswam.com/bio/sara-curtis/).
Finally, a shoutout to Retta Race, the former Masters swimmer and coach who now juggles an MBA, a full-time IT career, boutique ownership, and swimming commentary for the BBC. Talk about a multitasking champion! Learn more about her journey here: (https://swimswam.com/bio/retta-race/).
