PARIS – Virginia sophomore Sara Curtis broke her own day-old world record in the 50m Backstroke on Thursday (Aug. 13) at the 2026 European Swimming Championships at the Centre Aquatique Olympique Métropole du Grand Paris in Paris, France.
Curtis won gold in the 50m Backstroke, touching the wall in a world-record time of 26.56. Curtis initially set the world record in the event during her semifinal swim on Wednesday (Aug. 12), posting a 26.63.
“This medal means the world to me," Curtis said. "I’m happy to write my own history and a part of Italy’s history. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for me.”
This is her first individual long course meters European title. She is also the first Italian woman to win a 50m Back gold at the European Championships.
“I’m really happy," Curtis said. "It was difficult to manage the emotions from yesterday, and I struggled to fall asleep. I tried to put everything aside and race today, accelerating at the end. I did it again, and something else crazy happened. If I could, I would bring my parents onto the podium with me. None of this would be possible without them, and I can’t wait to hug them.”
This is the third world record set by the Cavaliers this week. In addition to Curtis’ two marks, alumnae Kate Douglass and Gretchen Walsh helped Team USA break the world record in the Mixed 4x100 Medley Relay on Wednesday (Aug. 12) at the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, Calif. Walsh swam the butterfly leg of the relay (54.99) with Douglass anchoring, splitting 51.01 on the freestyle to touch the wall in world record time of 3:36.70. Walsh helped set the previous record of 3:37.43 at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Will Modglin and Van Mathias swam the first two legs.
Virginia swimmers hold 18 current world records.
“When I decided to go to Virginia to train, this was what I was thinking about," Curtis said. "It is an enormous goal.”
Curtis is the first Black swimmer (male or female) to hold an individual long course meters swimming world record.
Curtis has made four podium trips at the championship. She won individual bronze in the 100m Free and earned two relay medals, taking silver in the 4x100m Free Relay and bronze in the Mixed 4x100m Free Relay. Both relays set Italian records with their times.
Curtis is scheduled to swim two more individual events at the championship, the 100m Back and the 50m Free.
The meet runs through Sunday (August 16).