Singapore: Dutch swimmer Marrit Steenbergen successfully defended her gold medal in the women's 100-meter freestyle Friday at the World Aquatics Championships held in Singapore. According to Qatar News Agency, Steenbergen clocked a winning time of 52.55 seconds, narrowly edging out Australia's Mollie O'Callaghan, who finished second in 52.67 seconds, and the United States' Torri Huske, who claimed bronze with 52.89 seconds. This marks Steenbergen's second consecutive world title in the event, having won gold last year at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar. Her victory in Singapore was significant, as she overcame a field stacked with Olympic champions and top-ranked competitors. O'Callaghan, who had already secured three gold medals at the Singapore meet, was aiming for a sprint double after winning the 200m freestyle earlier in the week. A win in the 100m would have made her Australia's most decorated world championship swimmer, surpassing Ian Thorpe's record. Huske, battling illness during the competition, led at the halfway mark but faded in the final stretch. Despite the setback, she expressed pride in her performance, calling it a personal triumph amid a challenging week. Steenbergen's win also delivered the Netherlands their first gold medal of the meet, adding to her earlier bronze in the women's 4x100m freestyle relay.