Claire Curzan Blasts 25.54 50 Back American Record

2022 FINA SHORT COURSE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Tuesday, December 13 to Sunday, December 18, 2022
• Melbourne Sports and Aquatics Centre, Melbourne, Australia
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Claire Curzan took down the American record in the 50 back this evening, clocking a 25.54 en route to picking up a silver medal. The previous American Record belonged to Olivia Smoliga, who swam a 25.74 in 2020 during the International Swimming League (ISL) season. Curzan’s previous best time in the event was 25.60, which she had swum in semifinals.

There have not been many American women who have broken the 26.0 barrier in this event. Curzan joins only Smoliga and Katharine Berkoff in those who have accomplished it.

Curzan finished 2nd behind Canada’s Maggie MacNeil, who clocked a 25.25. MacNeil’s time put her under her own World Record mark, and was her second individual win of the meet. Mollie O’Callaghan from Australia took bronze in a new Oceanic record of 25.61.

Results:

1. GOLD: Maggie MacNeil (Canada) – 25.25 (World Record)
2. SILVER: Claire Curzan (United States) – 25.54
3. BRONZE: Mollie O’Callaghan (Australia) – 25.61
4. Kylie Masse (Canada) – 25.81
5. Louise Hansson (Sweden) – 26.00
6. Hanna Rosvall (Sweden) – 26.05
7. Julie Jensen (Denmark) – 26.14
8. Maaike de Waard (Netherlands) – 26.16

Curzan’s swim now makes her the 2nd fastest performer all-time in the event, behind only MacNeil.

Top 5 Performers All-Time:

1. Maggie MacNeil (CAN) – 25.25 (2022)
2. Claire Curzan (USA) – 25.54 (2022)
3. Kira Toussaint (NED) – 25.60 (2020)
4. Mollie O’Callaghan (AUS) – 25.61 (2022)
5. Kylie Masse (CAN) – 25.62 (2021)

Curzan actually considering not swimming the event due to her schedule. She faced a tough double with the 50 back final and 50 free semifinal, as she only had the men’s 50 back and an awards ceremony between the two. She ended up outside of the top 8 in the 50 free, finishing 12th with a 24.22.

Curzan’s remaining individual event of this meet is the 100 fly.