Marrit Steenbergen Makes Fifth Trip to Paris Podium; John Shortt Demolishes Irish 100 Back Record
The Giant Open wrapped up with Marrit Steenbergen making a fifth trip to the podium in Paris and John Shortt rewriting the Irish record books.
The Netherlands swimmer had already won the 50, 100 and 200 free treble along with 50 back gold.
The 100 back was her final event of the three-day meet in the French capital. Analia Pigree was first at the turn but she was overhauled by Pauline Mahieu and Steenbergen with the Frenchwoman getting the touch in 59.44 to 59.78. Beryl Gastaldello was third in 1:00.21.
John Shortt: Photo Courtesy: Swim Ireland
Apostolos Christou had a clear lead at halfway in the men’s race while John Shortt and Yohann Ndoye Brouard couldn’t be separated behind him.
The Greek athlete came home in 53.09 despite the fast finish of Shortt who’d eaten into the deficit to take second in 53.37. Ndoye Brouard was next home in 54.17.
It was a huge Irish record for Shortt who cut a 0.36 slice from the 53.73 standard held since 2019 by Shane Ryan, who’s now departed for the drug-fuelled circus of the Enhanced Games.
Shortt’s previous best was 53.80 in the semis of last year’s World Junior Championships in Otopeni, Romania. It was his second Irish record in as many days after posting 1:56.07 en-route to 200 back gold.
Shortt spoke to Swimming World about a range of topics earlier this year, including the depth of quality among European male backstrokers. Read here.
Angelina Köhler clinched the 50/100 fly double with a 56.92 win over two lengths. The German enjoyed a winning margin of 0.84 over Anna Ntountounaki (57.78).
Angelina Köhler: Photo Courtesy: Deepbluemedia
Köhler had rattled her national 50 fly standard on Saturday in 25.57, 0.07 off her 25.50 German record as she came fourth at the 2025 worlds in Singapore.
Mary-Sophie Harvey clinched the IM double with a 2:09.82 victory over four lengths with Ellen Walshe second in 2:10.97.
Simone Cerasuolo won the men’s 50 breast in 27.06 ahead of 100 winner Melvin Imoudu (27.14) and Adam Peaty (27.30).
- Artemis Vasilaki completed the women’s distance treble with a 1500 win in 16:23.63
- Sacha Velly took the men’s 1500 in 14:53.62
- Luca Armbruster won the men’s 100 fly in 52.18
- Nika Godun won the women’s breaststroke in 31.25