CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW)- University of Virginia swimming star Sara Curtis took the gold in the 50m backstroke at Thursday’s 2026 European Swimming Championships in Paris, breaking the world record she set a day earlier.
In Wednesday’s semifinal, Curtis became the first Black swimmer to set an individual world record when she broke Australian Kaylee McKeown’s mark by swimming a 26.63. Thursday, the Cavaliers sophomore completed her final sprint in 26.56, becoming the first Italian woman to take gold in the event at the European championships.
Breaking two world records in 48 hours puts Curtis in the elite company that includes McKeown, who broke her own world record in the 100m backstroke a day after setting it in 2021.
Meanwhile at the Pan Pacific Games in Irvine, a 4×100 Mixed Relay squad fronted by UVA alumnae Gretchen Walsh and Kate Douglass set a new world record of their own, completing the relay in 3:36.70. The two former Wahoos were aided by Will Modglin and Van Mathias.
Walsh was part of the previous world recording breaking squad at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Virginia swimmers currently hold 18 world records.
