Claire Curzan on 100 Back World Record: “Very pie in the sky time”

By Coleman Hodges on SwimSwam

2026 U.S. Short Course World Championship Trials

• October 28-31, 2026
• Westmont, IL — FMC Natatorium
• SCM (25 Meters)
• Meet Central
• Selection Criteria
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• Live Stream
• Recaps
  • Prelims: Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
  • Finals: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
• Day 3 Prelims Heat Sheet

Video captured by Barry Revzin.

We knew the women’s 100 back would be a must-see race coming into this trials meet, and it fully delivered. Virginia’s Claire Curzan came out on top when the dust settled, in a big way. She not only took down the world record holder in the event, Regan Smith, and the defending Pan Pac gold medalist from last summer, Katharine Berkoff, but she also broke the world record to top it all off. Touching 53.92, she became the first woman in history to crack the 54-barrier.

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