Claire Curzan Becomes No. 2 15-16 Performer in History of 200-Yard Backstroke
As the Olympic year nears (again), there is no doubt that 16-year-old Claire Curzan will be one of the most-watched athletes in the United States, her precocious talent positioning her for a trip to the Tokyo Games. Over the weekend, while competing at the TAC Titans Blizzard Blitz, Curzan was nothing short of terrific.
As the meet wrapped up on Sunday night, Curzan became the second-fastest performer in the history of the 200-yard backstroke in the 15-16 age group, as she clocked in at 1:49.35. Curzan joined record-holder Regan Smith (1:48.30) as just the second swimmer in the classification to break the 1:50 barrier. Curzan went out in 25.66 and hit the midway point of the event in 52.96. She checked in at 1:20.95 at the 150-yard mark and covered her last 50 yards in 28.40.
For good measure, Curzan returned to the pool less than an hour later and posted a time of 47.51 in the 100 freestyle, an effort not far off her NAG standard of 47.23. Prior to her performance in the 200 backstroke, Curzan set a NAG record in the 100 backstroke (50.18) on Saturday night, turned in the No. 3 time in the age group in the 50 freestyle (21.71) and produced another sub-50 effort in the 100 butterfly.
With a long-course clocking of 56.61 in the 100-meter butterfly, Curzan will enter next year’s Olympic Trials as a leading contender in the event, with her versatility providing other options to her program.
Congratulations! Must be nice to be able to swim and actually compete! No meets here since February 2020 and now no pools are allowed open until February 1 2021 – perhaps longer
Franziska Hauptmann ??