Teenager breaks Kaylee McKeown's backstroke world record

Italian teenager Sara Curtis has shattered the women's 50m backstroke world record, previously held by Australian legend Kaylee McKeown. The 19-year-old Curtis achieved the remarkable feat at 26.63 seconds during the semifinals of the European championships in Paris. This time marked a significant improvement, shaving nearly a quarter of a second off McKeown's previous record of 26.86 seconds, which was set in October 2023 at a World Cup event in Budapest.

Born to an Italian father and a Nigerian mother, Curtis has been making waves in the swimming world after attending the University of Virginia. Her form was evident as she claimed bronze in the 100m freestyle event during the same championships. However, it was her record-breaking swim in the 50m backstroke that truly caught the attention of the swimming community.

Despite her incredible achievement, Curtis expressed her surprise and excitement, stating, "I knew I was capable of doing it, but I didn't expect it here, in this race, in this moment." She beamed with joy, declaring, "It's just so awesome, and I'm so happy! I can tell that I am superwoman right now, it's unbelievable, and I don't think I'm going to be able to sleep tonight."

McKeown, a five-time Olympic champion, is currently recuperating from glandular fever, which forced her to miss the Commonwealth Games and this week's Pan Pacific Championships. When McKeown set the previous 50m backstroke record in 2023, she made history by becoming the first swimmer to hold the world records for the 50, 100, and 200m backstroke events simultaneously. However, McKeown has since relinquished the 100m record to US rival Regan Smith in June 2024, retaining only the 200m record.