Ultra Swim Swimmer of the Month is a recurring SwimSwam feature shedding light on a U.S.-based swimmer who has proven themselves over the past month. As with any item of recognition, Swimmer of the Month is a subjective exercise meant to highlight one athlete whose work holds noteworthy context – perhaps a swimmer who was visibly outperforming other swimmers over the month, or one whose accomplishments slipped through the cracks among other high-profile swims. If your favorite athlete wasn’t selected, feel free to respectfully recognize them in our comment section.
Isabelle Stadden has had a magical first half of 2026 after making a big change and moving to the University of Virginia pro group after spending the past five-plus years at Cal.
The 23-year-old has rewritten her personal record book in the women’s backstroke events over the last few months, vaulting her up both the seasonal world rankings and the all-time performers’ lists.
Stadden’s biggest breakthrough meet came at the Fort Lauderdale Open at the beginning of May, where she hit massive new best times in the 100 back (57.55) and 200 back (2:04.37) to rank #3 all-time in the 100 and #4 all-time in the 200.
She also went 27.29 in the 50 back, matching the personal best she set at the Westmont Pro Swim in March.
Her incredible year continued in June, claiming a pair of victories in the 100 and 200 back at the Indianapolis Pro Swim while adding a new personal best in the 50 back.
Stadden won the 100 back in 58.01, her second-fastest performance ever, over a competitive field that included Olympic medalist Katharine Berkoff, and Stadden also broke 2:05 for the second time in the 200 back in 2:04.91 to claim the victory.
She becomes the fourth woman ever with multiple sub-2:05 swims in the 200 back, joining Kaylee McKeown, Regan Smith and Missy Franklin.
In the 50 back, despite taking 2nd to Berkoff, Stadden reset her personal best time twice, first clocking 27.18 in the prelims and then getting down to 27.14 in the final, ranking her tied for 10th all-time.
This season, she ranks 2nd in the world in the 100 and 200 back and 4th in the 50 back.
The most telling stat of Stadden’s resurgence this year is what her personal best times were prior to her heading to Charlottesville, and how many times she’s been faster in the last six months.
| Event | Previous PB (Year) | New PB | Times Faster Than Old PB In 2026 |
| 50 Back | 27.64 (2023) | 27.14 | 6 |
| 100 Back | 58.99 (2021) | 57.55 | 7 |
| 200 Back | 2:07.28 (2021) | 2:04.37 | 3 |
Although Stadden won’t be representing the U.S. at the Pan Pacific Championships this summer, seeing as the roster was selected last year, she has announced herself as a favorite to factor into the American roster at the 2027 World Championships and 2028 Olympics.
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