UVA Swimming: Sophomore Sara Curtis sets new world record in 50M Backstroke

UVA Swimming sophomore Sara Curtis set a new world record in the 50m Backstroke on Wednesday at the 2026 European Swimming Championships in Paris.

Curtis clocked a 26.63 in the semifinals of the 50m Backstroke, breaking the previous record of 26.86 that was set in 2003 by Kaylee McKeown of Australia.

Curtis, who competed for Italy in the 2024 Summer Olympics, had a previous best time in the 50M Backstroke of 27.07.

Curtis is the first Black swimmer (male or female) to hold an individual long course meters swimming world record.

University of Virginia swimmers now hold 18 current world records.