The defending champion Marrit Steenbergen denied Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan a sprint double at swimming’s world championships on Friday as the Dutchwoman won 100m freestyle gold in Singapore.
Steenbergen held off a late charge from O’Callaghan to touch the wall in 52.55sec, forcing her Australian rival to settle for second in 52.67. The US’s Torri Huske, who withdrew from a race earlier in the week after suffering from a stomach bug, was third in 52.89.
Steenbergen won world championship gold in the event in Doha last year in a field missing several big names saving themselves for the Paris Olympics. “In Doha I was like, this is crazy to win, but in this field I don’t know what to feel, I’m just so happy,” said the 25-year-old.
Steenbergen also won bronze with the Dutch team in the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay this week in Singapore. “After the relay I knew I was in good shape but I was getting more nervous through the week and tonight I was feeling it a bit,” she said. “I just tried to keep my calm.”
Steenbergen’s win denied O’Callaghan her fourth gold medal of the week and her 12th world championship career title.
A win would have seen her eclipse retired great Ian Thorpe as Australia’s most decorated world championship swimmer. “As I’ve said a thousand times, I’ve not had the best prep towards this,” said O’Callaghan, who won the 200m freestyle title two nights earlier. “To do what I did tonight, last night and the nights before that, I am very proud.”
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Day six of the competition concluded with red-hot favourites Britain clinching gold in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay, with China second and Australia third.
