Claire Curzan Breaks Own NCAA, American Records With 1:46.82 200 Backstroke

2025 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships

• March 19-22, 2025
• Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatics Center — Federal Way, Washington
• Short Course Yards (25 yards)
• Start Times: Prelims: 10 AM ׀ Finals: 6 PM (Pacific Daylight Time)
• Meet Central
• Official Psych Sheets
• SwimSwam Preview Index
• Live Results
• Live Stream
• Live Recaps:
  • Prelims: Day 2 | Day 3
  • Finals: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3  | Day 4

Women’s 200 Backstroke

• NCAA Record: 1:46.87 – Claire Curzan, Virginia (2025)
• Championship Record: 1:47.24 – Beata Nelson, Wisconsin (2019)
• American Record: 1:46.87 – Claire Curzan, Virginia (2025)
• U.S. Open Record: 1:46.87 – Claire Curzan, Virginia (2025)
• 2024 Champion: Phoebe Bacon, Wisconsin – 1:48.23

Top 8:

1. Claire Curzan (Virginia) – 1:46.82 (NCAA Record)
2. Bella Sims (Florida) – 1:47.11
3. Phoebe Bacon (Wisconsin) – 1:47.60
4. Leah Shackley (NC State) – 1:48.52
5. Carmen Weiler Sastre (Virginia Tech) – 1:49.22
6. Josephine Fuller (Tennessee) – 1:49.73
7. Erika Pelaez (NC State) – 1:49.81
8. Isabelle Stadden (California) – 1:51.41

Claire Curzan broke her own NCAA, American, and US Open record swimming to a 1:46.82 in the 200 backstroke. She also broke the previous NCAA meet record of a 1:47.24 that Beata Nelson swam representing Wisconsin in 2019.

Split Comparison

Curzan was out much faster today than she was back at midseason when she set the previous NCAA and American Records. She was exactly half a second ahead of record pace at the 100 mark.

With her win, the Virginia junior swept the backstroke titles. She also won the 100 back, swimming a 49.11 to out-touch Bella Sims by 0.01. Sims finished 2nd tonight, also under Nelson’s previous meet record as Sims touched in a 1:47.10.

After redshirting last year, Curzan earned her NCAA title back. As a freshman at Stanford, Curzan won the 200 back in a 1:47.64.