Record-breaking Curtis: she is the fastest backstroker in the world. Blue silver in the 4×100 freestyle

The Paris night brings a new name to the elite of world swimming: Sara Curtisafter the bronze in the 100 freestyle won in recent days – his first medal at the European Championships – signed a page of history in the semi-final of the 50 dorsobecoming the fastest backstroker on the planet.

The 17 year old from Piedmont, a student of Thomas Maggiora and Army standard bearer, swam a monumental feat, capable of shatter the world record: its time erases the previous limit of 26″86 belonging to the Australian Kaylee McKeownestablished on October 20, 2023 at the World Cup in Budapest. Curtis finished ahead of the neutral Russian Alina Gaifutdinova (26″91) and Dutch Marrit Steenbergen (27″31).

Tomorrow, at 18:36the Italian will go hunting for European gold.

Curtis’ words

«It was my biggest dream. I don’t even know how to process what I’m feeling. Setting a world record in the semi-final is different than in the final, where you just want to go and get it. I knew I could do it, it was unexpected but desired. I didn’t think it would arrive now, but I knew it would arrive”, he declared to Sky Sport after the match. “Tomorrow is the final, I just want to take it home and remember that today was a great day.”

Silver Italians in the 4×100 freestyle

The Italian women’s 4×100 freestyle relay team wins a silver medal at the European Swimming Championships in Paris. Emma Virginia Menicucci, Sara Curtis, Chiara Tarantino and Alessandra Mao finished in second place in 3’33″19, a new Italian record of exactly two seconds (3’35″18 on 27 July 2025). Gold went to the Netherlands by Milou Van Wijk, Imani De Jong, Yara Van Kalmthout and Marrit Steenbergen in 3’31″89, a Championship record. Bronze went to the neutral Russian team (3’33″69).

Italy, fourth after the first half, moved into first place with Curtis, a position it also maintained in Tarantino’s 100 metres. In the match against Steenbergen, Mao lost 44 hundredths in the first 50 metres.

Ceccon bronze in the 200 backstroke

Another medal arrives for Italy: Thomas Ceccon conquer the bronze in the 200 backstroke. Starting from lane 8, the blue finished in 1’53″96after being second until the last lap.

The gold goes to the Hungarian Hubert Kos (1’53″08), while the Greek Apostolos Siskos comeback in the last meters and win silver in 1’53″81.

Pilato third in the 100 breaststroke

Bronze also for Benedetta Pilate in the 100 rana. The Italian, defending champion after the triumph in Rome 2022, fought for the gold until the last ten metres, finishing in 1’05″89.

The European title goes to the British Angharad Evansauthor of the new Championship records con 1’04″87. Irish style silver Mona McSharry (1’05″41).