2026 U.S. Short Course World Championship Trials
WOMEN’S 50 BACKSTROKE – Final
World Record: 25.23, Regan Smith (USA) – 2024American Record: 25.23, Regan Smith – 2024U.S. Open Record: 25.37, Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 2024- Beijing ‘A’ Qualification Time: 26.54
Final:
- Katharine Berkoff (WOLF) — 25.21 *World Record*
- Claire Curzan (UVA) — 25.26
- Olivia Smoliga (TFA) — 25.70
- Isabelle Stadden (AQJT) — 25.81
- Kaitlyn Owens (SUN) — 26.59
- Miriam Sheehan (UN-AZ) — 26.69
- Abby Chan (HSA) — 26.95
- Lucy Velte (EKC) — 27.55
It was only a matter of time before Katharine Berkoff cemented her place in the history books as the fastest 50 backstroker, and today was the day. Berkoff fired off a scorching 25.21 to down fellow American Regan Smith‘s two-year-old World and American Records of 25.23.
Berkoff earned the record-breaking time after holding off a blistering-fast Claire Curzan, who touched just five one-hundredths back at 25.26.
The US women’s backstroke contingent has long been among the best stroke groups on the planet, and this final painted that picture once again.
Coming into this meet, Berkoff was tied for 6th with Curzan in the all-time rankings at 25.43, a time she swam just two weeks earlier at the UVA World Prep meet in Charlottesville. That time proved to be just a preview of what she was made of, as she would swim nearly a quarter of a second faster to down Smith’s World Record.
Curzan’s performance also leapfrogs her into the top five of all time, ahead of Kaylee McKeown (25.35), Gretchen Walsh (25.37), and Mollie O’Callaghan (25.42).
Top Women’s SCM 50 Back Performers All-Time:
- Katharine Berkoff (USA) – 25.21 (2026)
- Regan Smith (USA) – 25.23 (2024)
- Maggie MacNiell (CAN) – 25.25 (2022)
- Claire Curzan (USA) – 25.26 (2026)
- Kaylee McKeown (AUS) – 25.35 (2025)
Berkoff has evolved into one of the world’s most consistent sprint backstroke swimmers over the last few seasons, including her first-ever individual world title in the long-course 50 back last summer in Singapore.
After the race, Berkoff said she executed her race plan much better than in the prelims, which helped her beat both Curzan and the world record.
Berkoff’s former career best of 25.43 was not even a top-10 all-time performance, as it sat tied for 11th with Curzan; now both move comfortably inside the top ten at 1 and 4, respectively.
