Sara Curtis: The 18-Year-Old Who Just Blew Up the Swimming World
Okay, seriously, you guys are *not* going to believe this. Eighteen-year-old Sara Curtis? Total unknown, right? Wrong. She just absolutely *shattered* Federica Pellegrini's long-standing Italian record in the women's 100-meter freestyle. Like, obliterated it. Gone. Poof.
It happened at the Absolute Championships in Riccione on April 15th, 2025. And honestly, who saw that coming? She clocked an insane 53.01 seconds. Fifty-three point zero one! That's not just a new Italian record; it makes her the fastest woman in the world this season in the 100m free. This kid is a rocket.
A Race for the Ages
Her race was something else. She absolutely flew through the first 50 meters in a blistering 25.16 seconds. Then, she just kept that pace up, finishing the second half in 27.85 seconds. That's a 0.17-second improvement over Pellegrini's 2016 record. Can you even imagine the pressure? Emma Virginia Menicucci and Chiara Tarantino had strong races too (54.14 and 54.28 seconds respectively), but Sara was on another level completely. She just left them in the dust.
More Than Just a Flash in the Pan
This isn’t some fluke, either. Sara’s got serious credentials. Four medals at the 2022 World Junior Championships? Check. Six golds at the European Junior Championships? Double check. She even competed in the Olympics in Paris last summer. Didn’t medal, but honestly, being there at 17? That’s impressive. And she anchored Italy's winning mixed 4x50 freestyle relay at the 2024 Short Course World Championships in Budapest. This girl is a swimming machine!
Her coach, Thomas Maggiora, has been working with her since she was six years old. Talk about dedication from both of them!
Singapore: The Next Big Challenge
So, what’s next? The World Championships in Singapore, of course! She's already focusing on training and getting even better. This Riccione win? It’s just the beginning. It's going to be thrilling to see what she does next – the whole world is watching.
Beyond the Pool: A Well-Rounded Star
But here’s the thing that makes her story even more amazing: Sara's not just a phenomenal athlete. She's also a student at the Technical Economic and Tourist Institute! She paints, she reads… and she’s got this infectious smile that just lights up a room. Seriously, she’s the whole package. She’s an inspiration to all aspiring young swimmers, showing that you can balance incredible talent with other passions and interests.
It’s safe to say Sara Curtis is a name we’ll be hearing a lot more of in the future. This is just the start of something big.
