Teenager breaks Kaylee McKeown's backstroke world record
Italian teenager Sara Curtis has set a new world record in the women's 50m backstroke, beating the mark previously held by Australian great Kaylee McKeown.
Italian teenager Sara Curtis, 19, has shattered the women's 50m backstroke world record, which had been held by Australian legend Kaylee McKeown. Curtis achieved the new benchmark of 26.63 seconds during the semifinals of the European championships in Paris. McKeown, an Olympic five-time champion, is presently recuperating from glandular fever that caused her to miss the Commonwealth Games and this week's Pan Pacific Championships.
Curtis, born to an Italian father and a Nigerian mother, has been demonstrating remarkable progress since joining the University of Virginia's swimming program. She indicated her potential by winning bronze in the 100m freestyle at the Europeans, but her record-breaking performance was unexpected in this race. The Australian swimmer, who previously held the 50, 100, and 200m backstroke world records simultaneously, now retains only the 200m title after US rival Regan Smith took the 100m record in June 2024.
McKeown is currently recovering from glandular fever, which sidelined her from the Commonwealth Games and the Pan Pacific Championships.
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