Sara Curtis sets world record in 50-meter backstroke at Euro championships
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 12, 2026, 6:16 PM
Last updated Aug 12, 2026
Sara Curtis of Italy established a new world record in the women's 50-meter backstroke on August 12 at the European Aquatics Championships in Paris. She completed the semifinals in 26.63 seconds, surpassing the previous record of 26.86 seconds held by Australia’s Kaylee McKeown since October 2023. This achievement marks Curtis's first major long-course gold medal. The event's final is scheduled for Thursday, where Curtis will compete for another title. Increased attention on the 50-meter events is anticipated as they debut at the 2028 Olympic Games.
- •Curtis finished in 26.63 seconds during the semifinals.
- •McKeown previously held the record at 26.86 seconds.
- •Curtis is a six-time European junior champion.
- •The event's final is set for August 13.
- •European championships are the largest competition for continent’s swimmers.
- 6:28 PMYahoo Sports — Sara Curtis of Italy breaks world record in 50m backstroke
- 6:16 PMYahoo Sports — Italy’s Sara Curtis breaks world record in 50-meter backstroke at Euro championships
- 6:14 PMYahoo Sports — Italy's Sara Curtis sets world record with 26.63 in 50m backstroke at European Championships
"Italy’s Sara Curtis set a new world record in the women’s 50-meter backstroke Wednesday at the European Aquatics Championships, finishing in 26.63 seconds in the event’s semifinals to lower the mark by nearly a quarter of a second. Australia’s Kaylee McKeown owned the previous mark of 26.86, set in Budapest, Hungary, in October 2023. McKeown, the United States’ Katharine Berkoff and Curtis have all threatened the record since. Curtis clocked 27.07 seconds in June, tied for the ninth-best time ev
"Curtis shattered the 26.86 Australia's Kaylee McKeown registered during the 2023 World Cup.
"Sara Curtis took two tenths off Australian Kaylee McKeown's world record.
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsAug 12, 2026, 6:28 PMSara Curtis of Italy breaks world record in 50m backstroke
Sara Curtis took two tenths off Australian Kaylee McKeown's world record.
- Yahoo SportsAug 12, 2026, 6:16 PMItaly’s Sara Curtis breaks world record in 50-meter backstroke at Euro championships
Italy’s Sara Curtis set a new world record in the women’s 50-meter backstroke Wednesday at the European Aquatics Championships, finishing in 26.63 seconds in the event’s semifinals to lower the mark by nearly a quarter of a second. Australia’s Kaylee McKeown owned the previous mark of 26.86, set in Budapest, Hungary, in October 2023. McKeown, the United States’ Katharine Berkoff and Curtis have all threatened the record since. Curtis clocked 27.07 seconds in June, tied for the ninth-best time ev
- Yahoo SportsAug 12, 2026, 6:14 PMItaly's Sara Curtis sets world record with 26.63 in 50m backstroke at European Championships
Curtis shattered the 26.86 Australia's Kaylee McKeown registered during the 2023 World Cup.
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