Ultra Swim Swimmer of the Month is a recurring SwimSwam feature shedding light on a U.S.-based swimmer who has proven themselves over the past month. As with any item of recognition, Swimmer of the Month is a subjective exercise meant to highlight one athlete whose work holds noteworthy context – perhaps a swimmer who was visibly outperforming other swimmers over the month, or one whose accomplishments slipped through the cracks among other high-profile swims. If your favorite athlete wasn’t selected, feel free to respectfully recognize them in our comment section.
Virginia senior Claire Curzan had a phenomenal start to the 2026-27 NCAA season last weekend, putting on a dominant display at the second-ever College Swimming League (CSL) Match in Westmont.
In the very first event of the meet, Curzan produced fireworks in the women’s 200 backstroke, unleashing a time of 1:46.85 for the fourth-fastest performance of all-time.
Outside of Curzan herself, no one in history has ever been faster.
The 22-year-old set a new NCAA, American and U.S. Open Record in the event last year, clocking 1:46.09 at the ACC Championships, and followed up by going 1:46.10 en route to winning the NCAA title.
She initially set the all-time record at the 2024 Tennessee Invitational, putting up a time of 1:46.87 to break Regan Smith‘s previous mark of 1:47.16, and then re-lowered it to 1:46.82 later that season at the 2025 NCAA Championships.
All-Time Performances, Women’s 200 Backstroke (SCY)
- Claire Curzan, 1:46.09 – 2026 ACCs
- Claire Curzan, 1:46.10 – 2026 NCAAs
- Claire Curzan, 1:46.82 – 2025 NCAAs
- Claire Curzan, 1:46.85 – 2026 CSL Match #2
- Claire Curzan, 1:46.87 – 2024 Tennessee Invitational
- Bella Sims, 1:47.11 – 2025 NCAAs
- Regan Smith, 1:47.16 – 2019 Sectionals – Raleigh
- Beata Nelson, 1:47.24 – 2019 NCAAs
- Kathleen Baker, 1:47.30 – 2018 NCAAs
- Claire Curzan, 1:47.38 – 2025 ACCs
Later in the session, Curzan won the women’s 100 fly in a time of 50.25. She became the fourth-fastest performer of all-time in the event last year, placing 2nd at ACCs in 48.47 before finishing in the same position at NCAAs in 48.55.
Curzan also threw down a blistering 21.04 split on Virginia’s winning 200 free relay, and at the end of the meet in the 200 medley relay, she produced a 23.13 fly leg as the Cavaliers claimed another victory.
Curzan went on to be named the Women’s Match MVP after scoring 95 points, helping propel Virginia to the overall team victory.
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