Curzan Sets 100 Backstroke Short Course World Record
U.S. swimmer Claire Curzan lowered the short course 100 backstroke world record to 53.92 at the 2026 Trials in Westmont.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Swimming
Claire Curzan set a short course world record of 53.92 in the 100-meter backstroke at the 2026 U.S. Short Course World Championship Trials in Westmont, breaking Regan Smith's 54.02 mark. The 22-year-old also broke Smith's American record in the 200 backstroke with a 1:57.65, making her a key name for U.S. swimmers heading into the next world championships.
Why it matters
Records like this set the benchmark that national teams and coaches measure against as selection for international meets approaches. For swimming fans across the United States, the result signals a shift at the top of the women's backstroke field.
The figures come from official race times at a single national Trials meet, with Curzan's 100 backstroke performance confirmed head-to-head against Smith in the final. The result is a single-meet competitive outcome rather than a multi-race or multi-season measure of performance.
The players
Claire Curzan
A 22-year-old American backstroke swimmer who set the 100-meter short course backstroke world record and broke the American 200 backstroke record at the 2026 Trials.
Regan Smith
An American backstroke swimmer who set the 100-meter short course backstroke world record of 54.02 at the 2024 Short Course World Championships.
The details
Curzan led the 100 backstroke final from the start and lowered her time from 55.49 in the prelims to 53.92 in the final. Smith had set the 54.02 world record at the 2024 Short Course World Championships while leading off the U.S. women's 4x100 medley relay, and she matched that mark at a World Cup stop in Westmont in 2025.
Timeline
Curzan set her previous best of 55.74 at the 2022 Short Course World Championships.
Smith set the 54.02 world record at the 2024 Short Course World Championships.
Smith matched the 54.02 record at a 2025 World Cup stop in Westmont.
Curzan set the 53.92 world record at the Trials in Westmont last week, with the article published November 6, 2026.
Health Landscape
Short course world records are tracked through the international swimming championship series, where times are recorded in 25-meter pools. This result continues the progression of backstroke records set at that championship level.
For swimmers and parents of age-group athletes, records like this are a reminder that elite performance depends on consistent training and recovery. Anyone considering a new training load is worth discussing with a coach or physician first.
The takeaway
Elite swimming records are built on years of consistent training, which makes recovery and gradual load progression central to long-term performance. If you train seriously, discuss your own schedule and any soreness or fatigue with a coach or physician.
What happens next
Smith missed out on a spot in the 100 backstroke event at next month's World Championships, so the field for that race will be set without her.
Further reading
For more on the sport and its competitive calendar, explore our Swimming coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by SwimSwam.
