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Britta Steffen

Britta Steffen (German pronunciation: [ˈbʁi.ta ˈʃtɛfn̩] ⓘ; born 16 November 1983) is a German former competitive swimmer who specialized in freestyle sprint events, winning 2 gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Britta Steffen
Steffen with the 100m freestyle gold medal at 2009 world championships
Personal information
National team Germany
Born (1983-11-16) 16 November 1983 (age 41)
Schwedt, Bezirk Frankfurt, East Germany
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight60 kg (132 lb)
Websitebritta-steffen.com
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle
ClubSG Neukölln
Medal record
Women's swimming
Representing Germany
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games 2 0 1
World Championships (LC) 2 2 3
World Championships (SC) 1 1 0
European Championships (LC) 7 2 0
European Championships (SC) 5 5 4
Universiade 2 0 0
Total 19 10 8
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2008 Beijing 50 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2008 Beijing 100 m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 2000 Sydney 4 × 200 m freestyle
World Championships (LC)
Gold medal – first place 2009 Rome 50 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2009 Rome 100 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 2007 Melbourne 4 × 200 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 2009 Rome 4 × 100 m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 2007 Melbourne 100 m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Rome 4 × 100 m medley
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Shanghai 4 × 100 m freestyle
World Championships (SC)
Gold medal – first place 2012 Istanbul 100 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 2000 Athens 4 × 100 m freestyle
European Championships (LC)
Gold medal – first place 2006 Budapest 50 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2006 Budapest 100 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2006 Budapest 4 × 100 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2006 Budapest 4 × 200 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2012 Debrecen 50 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2012 Debrecen 4 × 100 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2012 Debrecen 4 × 100 m medley
Silver medal – second place 2006 Budapest 4 × 100 m medley
Silver medal – second place 2012 Debrecen 100 m freestyle
European Championships (SC)
Gold medal – first place 2007 Debrecen 100 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2007 Debrecen 4 × 50 m medley
Gold medal – first place 2011 Szczecin 50 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2011 Szczecin 100 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2011 Szczecin 4 × 50 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 1999 Lisbon 4 × 50 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 2007 Debrecen 50 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 2007 Debrecen 4 × 50 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 2010 Eindhoven 4 × 50 m freestyle
Silver medal – second place 2010 Eindhoven 4 × 50 m medley
Bronze medal – third place 2000 Valencia 4 × 50 m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 2003 Dublin 4 × 50 m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Eindhoven 50 m freestyle
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Eindhoven 100 m freestyle
Summer Universiade
Gold medal – first place 2007 Bangkok 50 m freestyle
Gold medal – first place 2007 Bangkok 100 m freestyle

Biography

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In 1999, Steffen won six titles at the European Junior Championships, and won a medal as a member of Germany's relay team in the 4 × 200 metre freestyle at the 2000 Summer Olympics.[1] In 2004, she asked to swim the 4×100 m relay. But after the Olympics, she took one year off swimming and concentrated on her studies, which were not finished.

At the 2006 European Championships in Budapest, Steffen clocked 53.30 in the women's 100 m freestyle event, breaking the world record and upstaging the previous record of 53.42 set by Libby Lenton of Australia. Even though Lenton swam a time of 52.99 on 4 April 2007 during the mixed 400 metre freestyle relay, this time was not recognized by the FINA as world record, because the race is not considered to be a FINA event.

At the same championships, Steffen was part of two world record-breaking relay teams. First, the German 4×100 m women's relay team of Dallmann, Goetz, Steffen and Liebs took the Australian 4×100 m freestyle relay (Mills, Lenton, Thomas and Henry) world record of 3:35.94, clocking a time of 3:35.22. The German women's relay team of Dallman, Samulski, Steffen and Liebs, then swam a time of 7:50.82 to take the previous US 4×200 m freestyle relay (Coughlin, Piper, Vollmer and Sandeno) world record that stood at 7:53.42.

At the 2007 World Championships in Melbourne where she finished third in the 100 metre freestyle event and second in the 4 × 200 metre freestyle relay.

During the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Steffen won the 100-meter freestyle, catching world record-holder Libby Trickett of Australia at the last stroke. Steffen touched in 53.12 seconds, bettering her own Olympic record of 53.38 set on the leadoff leg of the 4×100 m freestyle relay. Steffen then edged out Dara Torres to win the 50-meter freestyle gold with a time of 24.06 seconds, winning by 0.01 seconds.

At the 2009 World Championships in Rome, Steffen clocked 52.07 in the 100 m freestyle event, breaking the world record and upstaging the previous record of 52.22 set by herself four days before.[2] Two days later on 2 August 2009, Steffen won her second title in the 50 m freestyle event, breaking the world record with a time of 23.73 seconds.[3]

Her 100-metre freestyle long course world record was broken by Cate Campbell on 2 July 2016. Her 50-metre freestyle long course world record was broken by Sarah Sjöström on 29 July 2017.

Steffen officially retired from competitive swimming in 2013.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Britta Steffen". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  2. ^ "Steffen Breaks Record on Way to Glory". Sporting Life. 31 July 2009. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2009.
  3. ^ "Britta Steffen sets 42nd world record in 50 free". The Daily News Online. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  4. ^ "Double Olympic champion Britta Steffen retires". NBC Sports. 27 September 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
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