US Nationals Day 2 Finals: Claire Curzan Uses Outside Smoke to win Women’s 200 Backstroke
The 200 backstroke had been an event that had a usual quartet challenging for two spots every meet.
Olympians Regan Smith, Claire Curzan, Phoebe Bacon and Rhyan White have been the contenders for international teams.
Curzan has been on both sides of the races the past few years, making an Olympic team and missing one. She used some outside smoke from Lane 1 to make it happen this time.
“I was surprised and very pleased,” Curzan said. “I was really impressed with the time more than the place. It has been hard the past two years chasing a team. But I have learned to focus on myself and trust my training. Seeing a new best time made the swim for me.”
In the final, Curzan opened with the lead from Lane 1 ahead of Crush. She turned ahead at the 100 and Leah Shackley moved into second. At the 150, Curan was still in the lead, three tenths ahead of Shackley.
Curzan continued to build and got to the wall in 2:05.09 completely a stellar race from Lane 1.
“One thing I have learned with how many meets I have been to is prelims, you just have to survive and finals you start over,” Curzan said. “It is a new race. I was a little bummed to be in Lane 1 because in backstroke, it is harder to see what is going on around you. But then I was really happy because I could see my teammates and Todd (DeSorbo) and his heat sheet and that helped me.
“It is really hard in this field, but it is a double-edged sword. It is really hard but it is competitive and … the familiarity is helpful. I know how Regan swims and Phoebe swims and they want it as badly as I do.”
After missing the Olympic team last year, Curzan used her reflection to be ready for a strong year.
“I realized how tough I am. Ideally I would have loved to have a career with just an upward trajectory without any dips but having that battle back is just going to help in so many other aspects of life, not just swimming. It is nice to learn it in a controlled environment. The consequences are not as dire as I always made it. Miss a team, and there is hopefully next year.”
Curzan has made this year her year. She swept the backstroke events at NCAAs in a strong start to her 2025. But long course is definitely different.
“It was really hard getting back into training after NCAAs,” she said. “It was a grind.”
Smith put together a strong back half to finish second in 2:05.84.
Shackley was third in 2:06.66, followed by Phoebe Bacon 2:06.79.
For Curzan, this has been a redemption year after missing the Olympic team. She dominated at the NCAA Championships, leading Virginia to another title, and has been on point in long course two, even from an outside lane at US Nationals.
