Marrit Steenbergen was only 15 when she was labelled the new Ranomi Kromowidjojo after making her senior debut at the 2015 World Championships in Kazan, Russia. Two relay silvers with the Netherlands followed six medals at the European Games which led to the teenager being named Talent of the Year and the comparisons with three-time Olympic champion Kromowidjojo.
Steenbergen made her Olympic debut at Rio 2016 but she also had to adjust to leaving home for the National Training Centre in Eindhoven as well as contending with a shoulder injury. She opted out of the 2017 World Championships in Budapest and it wasn’t until 2020 that she felt in a good place in the water again.
Steenbergen returned to the international podium at the European Championships in Budapest, held in May 2021. She had a superb 2022, claiming her first individual long-course title when she won the 100/200 free double among seven medals at the European Championships in 2022.
Since then, the Dutchwoman has collected armfuls of medals including the 100m freestyle title at the 2024 World Championships, eclipsing Femke Heemskerk’s Dutch record in 52.26.
Speaking to Team Netherlands in June 2022, Steenbergen said: “Do I experience my sport differently now? I try to enjoy myself more, to be more in the here and now, instead of wanting to swim really fast. I’ll see what comes out of it.”
“If I’m going to force it very much - I have to do this or that - then something gets blocked. That’s what I’m trying to work on. I swim now because I like it. If I can swim with this attitude, then you are calm in it and you can also swim fast.”
