Sara Curtis Sets New 50m Backstroke World Record

Italian swimmer Sara Curtis, 19, has achieved a new world record in the women's 50m backstroke, clocking in at 26.63 seconds during the semifinals of the European championships held in Paris.

This performance broke the previous record of 26.86 seconds set by Australian swimmer Kaylee McKeown at a World Cup event in Budapest in October 2023. Curtis's record-breaking swim came shortly after she won a bronze medal in the 100m freestyle at the same championships.

McKeown, a five-time Olympic champion, is currently recovering from glandular fever, which has kept her from competing in recent events, including the Commonwealth Games and the Pan Pacific Championships. Following Curtis's swim, Alina Gaifutdinova of Russia recorded the second-fastest semifinal time at 26.91 seconds, marking a significant moment in the competition.