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 sensation 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 that record with a jaw-dropping 25.49 seconds on her way to winning gold in the individual 50m backstroke event. Was Curtis’s youth and collegiate training giving her an edge over the more experienced Steenbergen? It’s a question that’s sure to spark debate.
Fast forward to the final night 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 for this event. This back-and-forth battle wasn’t just about records—it was a testament to the relentless spirit of these athletes.
Speaking of history, here’s how Steenbergen stacks up against the all-time greats in the women’s 50m backstroke (short course meters):
- 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
But here’s the real question: Can Steenbergen climb even higher in the rankings, or will the next generation of swimmers like Curtis continue to push the boundaries? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is a debate that’s far from over!
