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Claire Curzan Breaks Down Going 56.20 100m Fly

In the SwimSwam Podcast dive deeper into the sport you love with insider conversations about swimming. Hosted by Coleman Hodges and Gold Medal Mel Stewart, SwimSwam welcomes both the biggest names in swimming that you already know, and rising stars that you need to get to know, as we break down the past, present, and future of aquatic sports.

We sat down with Claire Curzan, the 16-year-old swimmer for the TAC Titans who turned heads when she dropped a 56.20 100m fly 2 weekends ago in Cary, North Carolina. Swimming fans had already been looking forward to this meet, as Curzan and fellow age-group star Torri Huske were slated to race in the 50/100 free and 100 fly. Huske ended up taking the 50 and 100 free races, while Curzan won the 100 fly, becoming the #2 American performer in history with her swim. Curzan admits that her goal in the race was to come home in under 30, which she did (29.99), and therefore didn’t even know her final time until her teammate told her in the warm down pool.

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Marklewis
3 years ago

Claire is a swimming prodigy. As John Naber has said, the USA just seems to grow champions like her every generation.

Last edited 3 years ago by Marklewis
RUN-DMC
3 years ago

Based on her comments you can assume she had 5 days of rest for that 100 fly. That’s a pretty good amount of rest. And after thinking about it, she should probably go into trials with the same plan, and save the full taper for Tokyo.

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
3 years ago

Does Curzan break 56 in the women’s 100 meter butterfly at the 2021 Olympic Team Trials?

Caleb
Reply to  Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
3 years ago

yes and then faster in Tokyo. Huske will be under 56 this summer, too. (though competition for medals will be stiff)

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Caleb
3 years ago

I predict Curzan and Huske will go 1-2 in the the women’s 100 butterfly at the 2021 Olympic Team Trials and leave Dahlia and McLaughlin in the dust.

flex tape cant fix that
Reply to  Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
3 years ago

Then I guess youll have to change your username

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  flex tape cant fix that
3 years ago

When the world record in the women’s 4 x 100 meter medley relay is broken yet again, hopefully in the final of the Tokyo 2021 Olympics. In addition, Lilly King is long overdue for a monster relay split.

Hswimmer
Reply to  Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
3 years ago

Good that McLaughlin has 4 x 200 and a shot at the individual 200 spot behind ledecky. Dahlia looks out as of now.

Swimmer
Reply to  Hswimmer
3 years ago

dahlia in the same boat as Smoliga

Hswimmer
Reply to  Swimmer
3 years ago

Smoliga has a better chance IMO, especially for the 4 x 100.

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Hswimmer
3 years ago

Olivia Smoliga’s best time in the women’s 100 meter freestyle is 54.15. At the age of 18, Torri Huske recently blew that time away.

Best Times
Women’s 100 meter freestyle
Manuel – 52.04
Comerford – 52.59
Weitzeil – 53.18
Brown – 53.42
Huske – 53.46

Smoliga – 54.15

Smoliga better watch out for the likes of Douglass, Walsh at the 2021 Olympic Team Trials.

Hswimmer
Reply to  Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
3 years ago

Yeah I keep forgetting about Douglas. We haven’t seen her at all LC so I’m optimistic about it. Smoliga is also a big taper swimmer. She’ll go PBs in everything and hopefully peak when she needs to.

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Hswimmer
3 years ago

I’m still waiting for that breakout swim from Gretchen Walsh in calendar year 2021. Hopefully, the Walsh sisters will show up at the 2021 TYR Pro Swim Series – Indianapolis in May, 2021.

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Hswimmer
3 years ago

I don’t know of many swimmers who post best times at the age of 26.

Hswimmer
Reply to  Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
3 years ago

Smoliga is very consistent

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Hswimmer
3 years ago

Dahlia has not posted a sub 57 in the women’s 100 meter butterfly since calendar year 2018.

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Hswimmer
3 years ago

Typically, the top six swimmers in the women’s 200 meter freestyle qualify for the Olympic Team.

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Caleb
3 years ago

Just for the record, 56.2 in the women’s 100 meter butterfly is tied for 24th in the All-Time Top Performance List.

https://www.usaswimming.org/times/data-hub/all-time-top-performers

Not bad for a 16 year old.

Wild Bill
3 years ago

Is there a video anywhere of that wonderful swim?

And a big shout out to SwimSwam for being there.

Last edited 3 years ago by Wild Bill
swimfan210_
Reply to  Wild Bill
3 years ago
Honest Observer
Reply to  swimfan210_
3 years ago

Thank you for that. The race, up until the very end was closer than I’d had imagined from having just seen the times. The two of them were neck and neck but then Huske took an extra, unneeded stroke and got beaten by half a second. And Curzan’s staying underwater longer off the turn seemed to make the difference in the race. Incredible talents, it’s going to be a lot of fun following both of them for the next several years.

Yozhik
Reply to  Honest Observer
3 years ago

You are right – very close race. Given that Huske is faster sprinter in freestyle I would think that she will be faster than Curzan at Trials if she consider 100 fly her best chance for individual race in Tokyo. She has a lot of room for improvement both in technical aspects of this style and strategy of swimming this particular distance.
Should I bet on this race I would put my money on Torri.

Caleb
Reply to  swimfan210_
3 years ago

By world-class standards thats a pretty sloppy 2nd 50 for Huske… took 2 strokes before Curzan came up, then short-armed an extra stroke at the end. Lots of room for improvement. But both these young athletes are awesome, looks like the start of a long rivalry. Whats the closest female version to a Phelps-Lochte rivalry? (world-class across multiple strokes and distances over the same extended time period).?

tnp101
Reply to  Caleb
3 years ago

Yes, good observation. They touched at 50 at the same time. Then Huske took an extra short stroke at the end. She should have glided in and she would have gone faster. Might have tied with Curzan or very close actually.

Hswimmer
3 years ago

55 low when she gets more rest.

FlynDie
Reply to  Hswimmer
3 years ago

Did you hear what she said though? She’s been swimming out of her mind with little to no rest. Resting doesn’t mean exponential time drops, and it’s not apart of the formula for every swimmer. Ledecky is a prime example.

Hswimmer
Reply to  FlynDie
3 years ago

Trials is a big meet and I’m thinking she still goes that fast either way. She doesn’t even have to rest really, but I bet she goes in all out

Breezeway
Reply to  Hswimmer
3 years ago

Can’t wait to see all these fast times and records drop when everyone is “rested” in June/July. Seems nobody “rests” anymore

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Breezeway
3 years ago

Ledecky does not need to rest for the 2021 Olympic Team Trials. Ledecky’s times at the 2021 TYR Pro Swim Series – Mission Viejo will easily qualify in the women’s 200 FR, 400 FR, 1500 FR. As a matter of fact, the aforementioned times ranked in the Top 25 All-Time Performance List.

https://www.usaswimming.org/times/data-hub/all-time-top-performers

Irish Ringer
Reply to  Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
3 years ago

Do you know she wasn’t rested, even partially?

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Irish Ringer
3 years ago

Ledecky does not need no stinkin’ taper.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEkVG3Qm1RA

1:14

Yozhik
Reply to  Irish Ringer
3 years ago

At last PSS meet Ledecky definitely was focusing on her sprint performance. Probably therefore she skipped 800 race on day one before 200FR competition where she was superb. Her 100FR was her 4th ever best individual race at this distance. We can only guess why she did it and what this meet ment to her. But this meet wasn’t her regular training in-season meet; that is for sure. And if it’s so some special preparation was done that may included some resting.

ArtVanDeLegh10
Reply to  Hswimmer
3 years ago

Shaved/tapered means less than wearing a fast suit. Fast suits make such a big difference particularly for the women. I fully believe she wasn’t really rested, am will go faster when she is shaved/tapered.

20 years ago people didn’t swim fast in season. We all thought it was because they were tired, which is definitely a big part of it. I’d argue that now that everyone wears a fast suit for every meet, that’s why in season times have become so fast.

The only meets where people don’t typically swim super fast in season are in college dual meets. Why-because they aren’t suited up. If you look at the in season meets where people we wearing suits they… Read more »

Hswimmer
Reply to  ArtVanDeLegh10
3 years ago

Yeah I know

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Hswimmer
3 years ago

The world record in the women’s 100 meter butterfly is 55.48 seconds.

PFA
3 years ago

Unrelated to the swim but could someone explain the Stanford decision process because I keep hearing Claire could possibly be going there since we haven’t heard a college decision from her yet?

Last edited 3 years ago by PFA
Riccardo
Reply to  PFA
3 years ago

I don’t know if there is anything to that at all.

But to answer your question if a really high end recruit is still “uncommitted” really late in the process it is likely they are destined for Stanford or an Ivy and are just waiting on official word as to whether or not they’ve gotten in. Obviously you don’t want to publicly commit somewhere and then find out you didn’t get into school.

I don’t think we are at that point in the process yet though.

Last edited 3 years ago by Riccardo
PFA
Reply to  Riccardo
3 years ago

Yeah I just didn’t understand too well how it works with ivies and Stanford thank you.

PFA
Reply to  PFA
3 years ago

Probably best I don’t judge a book by its cover though.

ZanBai
3 years ago

Nice. Can’t wait for the trials.

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

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