Marrit Steenbergen clinched her second title in as many days and Tes Schouten booked her return to international competition on day two of the Dutch Championships.
Steenbergen won the 50 back in a 27.40 PB ahead of Tessa Giele (27.67) and Maaike de Waard (27.74) as all three women went inside the cut for the European Championships in Paris next month.
It was a second backstroke victory in as many days for Steenbergen who went 58.33 for a national record over 100m on the opening evening.
The trio were among Dutch swimmers to book a slot on the team for the continental showcase which runs from 10-16 August at the Olympic Aquatic Centre in Saint-Denis.
Schouten Returns To International Waters
Tes Schouten: Photo Courtesy: Deepbluemedia
Schouten booked her place on the team in the 100m breaststroke in 1:06.37 and was the only woman to break 1:07. She was followed by Florine Gaspard of Belgium (1:07.68) and Rafaela Mulders (1:09.13).
Schouten will return to international competition two years after winning 200 breast bronze at the Paris Olympics. However, that was followed by serious ill health after she was hospitalised in November 2024 with nerve pain, loss of power and function on the entire left side of her body.
She withdrew from the 2025 World Championships in Singapore as she was still experiencing extreme fatigue and pain on a daily basis before returning to competition in early 2026.
International waters beckon once more for the Antwerp-based swimmer who’ll also attempt to qualify in the 200m breaststroke.
Ellard Hits European Para-Swimming Record
Imani de Jong went inside 1:58 for the first time in the 200 free with her time of 1:57.79 earning her a place on the Netherlands team. Martin Belmon booked his slot in the men’s event in 1:48.20.
Marte Hieke van der Kamp added a second swim to her Paris programme, going 16:26.30 in the 1500 free a day after qualifying in the 400.
Briton Lucy Fox headed the women’s 200 fly in 2:09.72 with Evy Rozeboom inside the Dutch cut in 2:11.11 in second.
Noah Verreth of Belgium headed the men’s 50 back in 54.14 with Kai van Westering the first Dutchman home in 54.27. Thomas Jansen won the 200IM in 2:00.65, outside the QT although he will go again in the long medley.
William Ellard achieved a European para-swimming record in 57.97 on the S14 – 100 back