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Levenia Sim Downs Regan Smith’s 13-14 100 Back NAG In 51.03

2021 NCSA SPRING INVITE

TNT Swimming’s Levenia Sim dropped a massive best time to break Regan Smith‘s National Age Group Record in the 13-14 girls’ 100 backstroke (SCY), producing a time of 51.03 at the NCSA Spring Championships in Orlando.

The 14-year-old Sim entered the meet with a best time of 51.95, set just last month, and then sliced over nine-tenths off that to get under Smith’s NAG of 51.09 set in 2016.

Sim’s swim in February not only marked her first time sub-52, but it was also her first time under 53, with her best previously sitting at a 53.17 from December.

That 51.95 had ranked her fourth in the age group, trailing Smith, Claire Curzan (51.23) and former NAG record holder Alex Walsh (51.62).

Sim also went 52.34 in this morning’s prelims, which is faster than everyone other than the aforementioned three in the age group’s history (fifth all-time is Amy Tang, 52.75).

Comparing the former and new NAG record splits, Sim was significantly faster on the opening 50, flipping in 24.49 to Smith’s 25.07.

Swimmer 1st 50 split 2nd 50 split Final Time
Regan Smith, 2016  25.07  26.02 51.09
Levenia Sim, 2021  24.49  26.54 51.03

Sim also currently holds the 11-12 NAG in the SCY 50 backstroke (25.65).

Smith has gone on to assert herself as the world’s fastest female backstroker, holding the world records in the long course 100 and 200 back, along with the American and U.S. Open Records in the SCY 100 and 200.

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Terry Watts
3 years ago

Wow that’s fast!

HOYA13
3 years ago

Would have made the A final at NCAAs this morning with that time

tea rex
3 years ago

That’s got to be an old picture. If she’s going 51.0 at under 5 feet… I’d just give up.

Hannah
Reply to  tea rex
3 years ago

It’s clearly pre covid at the very least.

Hercoach
Reply to  tea rex
3 years ago

The photo is from 2019 after she broke the 11-12 50 back. She is around 5’3” now.

PkWater
3 years ago

Jan is an awesome coach! The one time I had the pleasure to meet him he was extremely humble along with being very kind.

Pool
3 years ago

Is there a video link?

Admin
Reply to  Pool
3 years ago

Not one that we’ve found yet.

VFL
Reply to  Braden Keith
3 years ago

There’s a vid on the Facebook coaching group. Second hand filming of an iPad streaming the race, but still good quality!

Hercoach
Reply to  Pool
3 years ago
Xman
3 years ago

2 more seconds to go.

Wild Bill
3 years ago

Lungs!

Swimming faster underwater than on the top, especially with backstroke.

Snarky
3 years ago

Too much fast swimming at too young an age.

Mary Beth Mantiply
Reply to  Snarky
3 years ago

Holding those records “at too young an age” seemed to work out OK for Regan Smith. In any event, would it surprise you to know that bc of Covid pool rules, TNT’s daily workouts (6 per week) are limited to a max of 1 1/2 hours?

Admin
Reply to  Mary Beth Mantiply
3 years ago

This “too young” mentality is a dead giveaway about a commenter’s age. This was dogma for a long time in the late 80s and 90s, after the teen-burnouts of the 70s. It still lives on in many circles.

But, it’s clear from what we’ve seen over the last 15 years that it’s no longer true. There are still late-bloomers, and there are still burnouts, but many, many Olympians are National Age Group Record breakers as well.

The way these kids are getting fast is different than the way they were getting fast 20, 30, 40 years ago. It’s more precise, it’s more scientific, it’s not just pound them all into dirt and see who survives to the other side like… Read more »

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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