ZUMO Performance of the Week: Minna Atherton Moves to Fourth All-Time in 100 Back SCM in ISL Debut

Minna Atherton was just four tenths off the world record in the 100 back SCM. Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant

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This week’s ZUMO Performance of the Week goes to Minna Atherton of Australia and the London Roar as she moved to number four all-time in the 100 back (SCM) on Sunday. Atherton had a successful debut in the International Swimming League over the weekend as she won the 200 back (2:00.58), 50 back (25.99) and also led off the London Roar’s 4×100 medley relay team (55.45).

Atherton improved her best time of 56.04 from the 2018 World Cup in Tokyo last year. She nearly broke the Australian national record in the medley relay on Saturday with a 55.45, just missing Emily Seebohm’s 55.31 from 2014. Atherton then went two hundredths faster on Sunday but it was still not enough to get Seebohm’s record. Regardless, Atherton now sits fourth on the all-time list behind Katinka Hosszu, Shiho Sakai and Seebohm.

Atherton also had a solid swim in the 200 back, moving up to sixth all-time with her 2:00.58, improving her personal best of 2:02.02 from last year’s World Cup in Beijing. She has been on a tear this year as the 19-year-old has nearly revitalized her once promising junior career into a potential Olympic medalist next year. In 2015 at just 15-years-old, she won both the 100 and 200 back at the World Junior Championships, but had not improved her best time in either event until this year. Atherton then qualified to swim at her first senior World Championships this year by helping un-seat Seebohm as the best backstroker in Australia.

Atherton went on to win the silver medal in the 100 back at the World Championships and finished sixth in the 200. She also led off Australia’s silver medal winning medley relay team.

The London Roar won their first ISL match over the weekend in Dallas ahead of the LA Current, Team Iron and the New York Breakers thanks in part to Atherton’s four wins on the weekend as she was tied for sixth with Tom Shields of the LA Current in the MVP point standings.

Congrats to Minna Atherton on winning the ZUMO Performance of the Week.

Top 10 All-Time Women’s 100 Back (SCM)

55.03, Katinka Hosszu, HUN (2014)
55.23, Shiho Sakai, JPN (2009)
55.31, Emily Seebohm, AUS (2014)
55.43, Minna Atherton, AUS (2019)
55.47, Olivia Smoliga, USA (2018)
55.48, Gao Chang, CHN (2009)
55.54, Daryna Zevina, UKR (2014)
55.91, Kathleen Baker, USA (2018)
55.92, Courtney Bartholomew, USA (2015)
55.92, Kira Toussaint, NED (2018)

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