UVA Swimming: One other world document for UVA sophomore Sara Curtis

UVA Swimming sophomore Sara Curtis broke her personal world document within the 50m Backstroke on Thursday on the 2026 European Swimming Championships in Paris.

On Wednesday, Curtis had clocked a 26.63 within the semifinals of the 50m Backstroke, breaking the earlier document of 26.86 that was set in 2003 by Kaylee McKeown of Australia.

On Thursday, Curtis received gold within the 50m Backstroke, touching the wall in a world-record time of 26.56.

The medal was Curtis’ third within the championship meet; she had already received bronze within the 100m Free and silver within the 4x100m Free Relay.

Curtis, who competed for Italy within the 2024 Paris Olympics, is the primary Black swimmer (male or feminine) to carry a person lengthy course meters swimming world document.

Her feat on Thursday is the third world document set by the UVA Swimming program this week.

In addition to Curtis’ two marks, alums Kate Douglass and Gretchen Walsh helped Team USA break the world document within the Mixed 4×100 Medley Relay on Wednesday on 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 the touch the wall in world document time of three:36.70.

Walsh helped set the earlier document of three:37.43 on the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Will Modglin and Van Mathias swam the primary two legs.

University of Virginia swimmers now maintain 18 present world data.