Italian swimmer Sara Curtis set a new world record in the women’s 50-metre backstroke on Wednesday during the European Aquatics Championships [1].
The achievement establishes a new global benchmark for the event and marks a significant rise for the teenage athlete on the international stage.
Curtis, 19, represents Esercito/CS Roero and hails from Savigliano [1, 2]. She clocked a time of 26.63 seconds [1, 3] during the morning semifinals in Paris, France [1, 2]. This performance beat the previous world record by 0.23 seconds [1, 2].
The record-breaking swim secured Curtis a place in the final of the competition. Following the race, the swimmer expressed disbelief at the result. "È follia, è follia, è follia" (It is madness, it is madness, it is madness), Curtis said [2].
This performance follows a series of strong results for the athlete earlier this year. In June, Curtis said she was happy after setting an important European record [3]. However, the time recorded this week in Paris surpasses those previous marks to claim the world title.
Curtis remains focused on the immediate goal of winning the gold medal. "Domani c'è la finale e voglio solo portarmela a casa" (Tomorrow is the final and I just want to bring it home), Curtis said [2].
“"È follia, è follia, è follia"”
The 0.23-second improvement represents a substantial leap in a sprint event where margins are typically measured in hundredths of a second. By setting this record in a semifinal, Curtis has entered the final as the clear favorite, shifting the competitive pressure to her opponents while elevating Italy's standing in international swimming.
