UVA Swimming sophomore Sara Curtis broke her own world record in the 50m Backstroke on Thursday at the 2026 European Swimming Championships in Paris.
On Wednesday, Curtis had 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.
On Thursday, Curtis won gold in the 50m Backstroke, touching the wall in a world-record time of 26.56.
The medal was Curtis’ third in the championship meet; she had already won bronze in the 100m Free and silver in the 4x100m Free Relay.
Curtis, who competed for Italy in the 2024 Paris Olympics, is the first Black swimmer (male or female) to hold an individual long course meters swimming world record.
Her feat on Thursday is the third world record set by the UVA Swimming program this week.
In addition to Curtis’ two marks, alums Kate Douglass and Gretchen Walsh helped Team USA break the world record in the Mixed 4×100 Medley Relay on Wednesday at the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, Calif.
Walsh swam the butterfly leg of the relay (54.99) with Douglass anchoring, splitting 51.01 on the freestyle to touch the wall in world record time of 3:36.70.
Walsh helped set the previous record of 3:37.43 at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Will Modglin and Van Mathias swam the first two legs.
University of Virginia swimmers now hold 18 current world records.
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Chris Graham
