Young Italian smashes 50m backstroke world record

Italian swimmer Sara Curtis shattered the world record in the 50-meter backstroke during the semifinals of the European Championships in Paris. The 19-year-old sensation clocked in at an astonishing 26.63 seconds, significantly lowering the previous record of 26.86 seconds.

The previous record was held by Australian swimming legend Kaylee McKeown, a five-time Olympic gold medalist. Curtis's performance in Paris marks a major milestone in her burgeoning career. She expressed disbelief and exhilaration after the race, stating, "I knew I was capable of it, but I didn't expect it to happen here at this time in this race. I feel like a superhero right now. It's incredible, and I don't think I'll sleep tonight."

Curtis, long considered a top talent in swimming, has already secured numerous junior medals at European and World Championships. In 2024, she contributed to a World Championship gold medal as part of the Italian relay team. Her breakthrough at the senior level came last year at the short course European Championships, where she won seven medals.

In another notable performance at the championships, Sweden's Sarah Sjöström, 32, demonstrated her continued dominance by winning the 50-meter butterfly in 25.05 seconds. This victory brought her European long course gold medal count to 18, tying the record held by German swimmer Franziska van Almsick. The European Championships are scheduled to conclude on Sunday.

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I knew I was capable of it, but I didn't expect it to happen here at this time in this race. I feel like a superhero right now. It's incredible, and I don't think I'll sleep tonight.