Sette Colli, Day 1: Sara Curtis Lowers 50 Backstroke European Record; Kristof Milak, Gui Caribe Impress
On the heels of a stellar freshman campaign at the University of Virginia, Sara Curtis continues to record performances that suggest her ability to contend for medals in the sprint events at major international competitions. Competing on home soil at the Sette Colli meet in Rome, Curtis produced a massive effort in the women’s 50 backstroke to lower the European record and become the fifth-fastest performer in history.
Curtis won the event in 27.07, beating the previous European record of 27.10 set by Kira Toussaint of the Netherlands in 2021. Curtis lowered the Italian record of 27.23 she set in prelims, which in turn knocked a tenth off her domestic mark of 27.33 from April. The only swimmers to ever swim faster times are Australian world-record holder Kaylee McKeown, American world champion Katharine Berkoff and the Chinese duo of Liu Xiang and Zhao Jing. In Rome, Curtis finished ahead of countrywomen Costanza Cocconcelli (27.83) and Chiara Lamanna (28.28.).
The top men’s performance of the day came from Hungary’s Kristof Milak in the 100 butterfly, his performance of 50.47 sufficient to hold Noè Ponti at bay by four tenths. Milak, the reigning Olympic gold medalist with a best time of 49.68 ranking third all-time, is attempting to regain top form after struggling in 2025 and withdrawing from the World Championships. Ponti placed second in 50.89 while Italy’s Michele Busa came in third (51.57).
Brazil’s Gui Caribe blazed to a time of 21.46 in the 50 freestyle. That matched Caribe’s best time, first achieved last April, which ranks him in a tie for 28th all-time. Romania’s David Popovici, the reigning world champion in the 100 and 200 free, posted a strong time of 21.82 to finish second with Italy’s Leonardo Deplano third in 21.90.
The reigning world champion in the 50 breaststroke topped one of his fiercest domestic rivals. Simone Cerasuolo won the event in 26.63, less than a tenth slower behind his gold-medal time from the World Championships and just ahead of Ludovico Viberti (26.74). Viberti finished 2025 with the world’s fastest time of 26.27, recorded at the same Sette Colli meet in June 2026. Russia’s Ivan Kozhakin placed third in 26.77, followed by veterans Ilya Shymanovich (27.02) and Nicolo Martinenghi (27.07) while Germany’s Melvin Imodou clocked 26.96 in the B-final.
The women’s breaststroke race held Friday was the 100, where Benedetta Pilato overtook countrywoman and early leader Lisa Angiolini for the win. Pilato, the 2022 world titlist in the 100 breast, clocked 1:05.85. Mona McSharry, the veteran from Ireland who touched out Pilato for the bronze medal in the 2024 Olympic final, came in second at 1:06.30 while Angiolini fell to third (1:06.53). Tes Schouten, the Dutch swimmer better known for her 200-meter success, also scorched the opening half and ended up fourth (1:06.65).
In the women’s 200 free, Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey continues to round into form. The Tokyo Olympic silver medalist won her race by more than two seconds with a time of 1:55.00, well clear of Italians Alessandra Mao (1:57.24) and Anna Chiara Mascolo (1:58.16) plus American Alex Walsh (1:58.39). Marrit Steenbergen, who earlier this year became the second-fastest 100 freestyler in history, swam a time of 1:56.02 to top the consolation final.
Apostolos Christou shined in the men’s 50 back with a time of 24.40. The veteran from Greece came in just four hundredths behind his 2022 best time of 24.36, which ranks 22nd all-time. The Italian duo of Francesco Lazzari (24.69) and Michele Lamberti (24.82) completed the top-three. In the men’s 400 free, Italy’s Marco de Tullio went wire-to-wire on the way to a comfortable win. He finished in 3:45.10, ahead of countrymen Alessandro Ragaini (3:46.96) and Luca de Tullio (3:47.39), with Brazilian veteran Guilherme Costa taking fourth (3:47.84).