World Championships, Day 3 Finals: Claire Curzan Dominates Field For Gold in 100 Backstroke

Claire Curzan of United States of America reacts after competing in the swimming 100m Backstroke Women Heats during the 21st World Aquatics Championships at the Aspire Dome in Doha (Qatar), February 12, 2024. Photo Courtesy: Andrea Masini / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

World Championships, Day 3 Finals: Claire Curzan Dominates Field For Gold in 100 Backstroke

Claire Curzan knew a world championship was within her grasp and she responded.

Curzan threw down a 58.29 to win gold in the 100 backstroke at the 2024 World Championships in Doha on Tuesday, besting the field by nearly an entire second.

It was her second individual medal of the championship thus far after a silver in the 100 butterfly.

The women’s 100 backstroke has been a huge event for the U.S. over the years, but especially the past two decades with Natalie Coughlin, Missy Franklin, Kathleen Baker, Olivia Smoliga, Regan Smith and Katharine Berkoff leading the way. Each was an individual medalist at worlds or the Olympics – or both, while Coughlin and Franklin were Olympic gold medalists.

Curzan is the youngest of the group and proved to be at the top of her game on the world stage.

It sets up an interesting event on the road to Paris for the U.S. Curzan, Smith, Berkoff and Smoliga are all very much in play with only two Olympic spots in the event. Then the Olympics will likely have Australia’s Kaylee McKeown to deal with as well as Canada’s Kylie Masse.

McKeown is the world record holder at 57.33.

Results

One of the most entertaining events in swimming will continue to flex its muscles all year in 2024.

Australia’s Iona Anderson claimed the silver medal in 59.12, while Canada’s Ingrid Wilm won the bronze with a time of 59.18.

Rounding out the field were Australia’s Jaclyn Barclay (59.28) in fourth, followed by Great Britain’s Lauren Cox (59.60) and Kathleen Dawson (1:00.42), and Maaike de Waard (1:00.64) and Kira Toussaint (1:00.73) of the Netherlands.

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