Virginia Atmosphere Has Lifted Italian Sara Curtis to Career-Best Marks
Gretchen Walsh – World-record holder. Kate Douglass – Olympic Champion. Alex Walsh – Olympic Medalist. Claire Curzan – American-record holder. The list could go on, and these athletes could be accompanied by other descriptors. The common theme? Each has elevated her status under the guidance of the University of Virginia staff, helmed by Head Coach Todd DeSorbo and Senior Associate Head Coach Tyler Fenwick.
An argument can be made that the gathering of female stars in Charlottesville – pro group and college squad – is as good as it gets in the sport. On a daily basis, over all strokes and distances, the UVA environment is a breeding ground for massive success. So, when Italian standout Sara Curtis was seeking a home for her collegiate career, it made sense to consider that star-laden locale on the East Coast of the United States.
Immediately, Curtis delivered for Virginia, establishing herself as one of college swimming’s elite performers individually and for the Cavaliers’ relays. At the NCAA Championships, Curtis helped propel UVA to a sixth consecutive team title, a feat never previously accomplished in women’s swimming. To the latest championship, Curtis turned in a runnerup finish in the 50 free and a third-place outing in the 100 free, while contributing to a quartet of victorious relays.
Multiple storylines emerged during last weekend’s Sette Colli International Trophy in Rome. headlined by Walsh’s world record of 23.55 in the 50-meter freestyle. Meanwhile, Sarah Sjostrom looked sharp in the latest meet of her comeback. Then there was David Popovici, who registered convincing victories in the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle to solidified himself as the heavy favorite to claim double gold at August’s European Championships in Paris.
During the three days of Sette Colli action at the Foro Italico, Curtis put together one of the finest competitions of her career. The weekend started with the 19-year-old setting a European record in the 50 backstroke, off a performance of 27.07. That time lifted the teenager to No. 5 in the all-time rankings, but was just a start for her three-day trip to the Italian capital. She followed with Italian records in the 100 freestyle (52.69) and 50 freestyle (24.09), those races featuring respective world records from Marrit Steenbergen (51.68) and Gretchen Walsh (23.55).
By setting three national records in as many days, including a continental standard, Curtis is clearly moving toward the European Championships in a positive manner. The meet in Paris will be Curtis’ first international competition since joining the UVA program, and if her results from Sette Colli are an indication, the Italian is primed to shine.
