Britta Steffen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Britta Steffen

Steffen with the 100m freestyle gold medal at 2009 world championships
Personal information
Born	(1983-11-16) 16 November 1983 (age 41) Schwedt, Bezirk Frankfurt, East Germany
Height	1.80 m
Weight	60 kg
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Freestyle
Club	SG 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 Short Course Swimming Championships (SC) 5 5 4 Universiade 2 0 0 Total 19 10 8 Olympic Games Gold 2008 Beijing 50 m freestyle Gold 2008 Beijing 100 m freestyle Bronze 2000 Sydney 4 × 200 m freestyle World Championships (LC) Gold 2009 Rome 50 m freestyle Gold 2009 Rome 100 m freestyle Silver 2007 Melbourne 4 × 200 m freestyle Silver 2009 Rome 4 × 100 m freestyle Bronze 2007 Melbourne 100 m freestyle Bronze 2009 Rome 4 × 100 m medley Bronze 2011 Shanghai 4 × 100 m freestyle World Championships (SC) Gold 2012 Istanbul 100 m freestyle Silver 2000 Athens 4 × 100 m freestyle European Championships (LC) Gold 2006 Budapest 50 m freestyle Gold 2006 Budapest 100 m freestyle Gold 2006 Budapest 4 × 100 m freestyle Gold 2006 Budapest 4 × 200 m freestyle Gold 2012 Debrecen 50 m freestyle Gold 2012 Debrecen 4 × 100 m freestyle Gold 2012 Debrecen 4 × 100 m medley Silver 2006 Budapest 4 × 100 m medley Silver 2012 Debrecen 100 m freestyle European Championships (SC) Gold 2007 Debrecen 100 m freestyle Gold 2007 Debrecen 4 × 50 m medley Gold 2011 Szczecin 50 m freestyle Gold 2011 Szczecin 100 m freestyle Gold 2011 Szczecin 4 × 50 m freestyle Silver 1999 Lisbon 4 × 50 m freestyle Silver 2007 Debrecen 50 m freestyle Silver 2007 Debrecen 4 × 50 m freestyle Silver 2010 Eindhoven 4 × 50 m freestyle Silver 2010 Eindhoven 4 × 50 m medley Bronze 2000 Valencia 4 × 50 m freestyle Bronze 2003 Dublin 4 × 50 m freestyle Bronze 2010 Eindhoven 50 m freestyle Bronze 2010 Eindhoven 100 m freestyle Summer Universiade Gold 2007 Bangkok 50 m freestyle Gold 2007 Bangkok 100 m freestyle

Britta Steffen, born on November 16, 1983, is a famous German swimmer. She was known for her amazing speed in freestyle sprint races. Britta won two gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, making her a true champion.

Britta Steffen's Swimming Journey

Britta Steffen started her swimming career very strongly. In 1999, she won six titles at the European Junior Swimming Championships. The next year, in 2000, she earned a medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. This was for being part of Germany's 4 × 200 metre freestyle relay team.

Taking a Break and Coming Back Strong

After the 2004 Olympics, Britta decided to take a year off from swimming. She wanted to focus on her studies. When she returned, she was more determined than ever.

Breaking World Records

At the 2006 European Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Britta Steffen set a new world record in the women's 100 metre freestyle event. She swam it in just 53.30 seconds! This was faster than the previous record.

Britta also helped her German relay teams break two more world records at the same championships.

• First, the German 4 × 100 metre women's freestyle relay team set a new record of 3:35.22.
• Then, the German 4 × 200 metre women's freestyle relay team also broke a world record, finishing in 7:50.82.

World Championships Success

In 2007, at the World Championships in Melbourne, Britta continued to shine. She finished third in the 100 metre freestyle. She also won a silver medal with her team in the 4 × 200 metre freestyle relay.

Olympic Gold Medals

The 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing were a huge success for Britta.

• She won the gold medal in the 100 metre freestyle. She beat the world record-holder, Libby Trickett, right at the very end of the race. Britta finished in 53.12 seconds, which was an Olympic record for her.
• A few days later, she won her second gold medal in the 50 metre freestyle. She narrowly beat Dara Torres by just 0.01 seconds, finishing in 24.06 seconds.

More World Records in Rome

At the 2009 World Championships in Rome, Britta Steffen broke two more world records.

• She swam the 100 metre freestyle in 52.07 seconds, setting a new world record. She had actually set the previous record herself just four days before!
• Two days later, on August 2, 2009, Britta won her second title in the 50 metre freestyle. She broke another world record with a time of 23.73 seconds.

Records Broken by Others

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

Retirement from Swimming

Britta Steffen officially stopped competing in swimming in 2013. She left behind an amazing legacy of speed and success in the pool.

See also

In Spanish: Britta Steffen para niños

• List of German records in swimming
• World record progression 50 metres freestyle
• World record progression 100 metres freestyle