FLASH! Sara Curtis Takes Down Newly-Minted 50 Back World Record En-Route To European Title
Sara Curtis took down her 50 back world record in 26.56 en-route to the European title in Paris.
The Italian took 0.07 off the record of 26.63 she set a day earlier at the Olympic Aquatic Centre ahead of home favourite Mary-Ambre Moluh who clocked 27.06.
Lauren Cox matched her British record of 27.15 leaving Marrit Steenbergen 0.01 off the podium in 27.16 in the first of her two finals on night four.
While Italian women had won two silvers and a bronze in the 14 editions since the 50 back was introduced to the programme, Curtis is the first to stand atop the podium.
Now the 19-year-old has a medal of each colour plus a world record from four days of competition with 4×100 free silver and 100 free bronze to add to Thursday night’s gold with more racing to come including the 50 free where her 24.09 national record from the June Sette Colli indicates she’ll be jostling for more medals.
Curtis moved to the University of Virginia last autumn to train in the programme headed by Todd DeSorbo, a switch that has reaped benefits for the teenager whose parents danced in the stands at the Olympic Aquatic Centre.
“I am really happy,” she said after the race. “It was hard to manage yesterday’s record-breaking emotions. I struggled to fall asleep. I tried to keep everything aside. In the race I tried to accelerate in the last 15 metres as much as possible. It’s another madness. Without mum and dad nothing would be possible. If I could, I would take them to the podium.”
She added: “When I decided to go to Virginia I was only thinking about this, about being able to celebrate a world record one day. I succeeded. To me, these victories literally mean the world. I am happy to write historic pages of sport for swimming and for Italy. Singing the anthem was beautiful. I can’t wait to find out what the future holds for me.”
