Claire Curzan on Outside Smoke Redemption Win: “I was really happy I was in Lane 1”

2025 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

After missing the Olympic team by the slightest of margins last year, Claire Curzan bounced back one year later in Indianapolis. Swimming out of lane 1, Curzan swam a huge lifetime best in the 200 back final, touching first in 2:05.09. This puts the NCAA champion back on Team USA, who swept the backstroke events (50-100-200) at the 2024 World Championships in Doha.

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Cassandra
2 days ago

i just realized this but anastasiya shkurdai had the same event profile evolution as claire — started out a sprinter flyer and now swims backstroke almost exclusively w a specific 200 back focus (shkurdais pb is a 206 high). curzan and shkurdai also both finished behind torri in the 50/100 fly at world jrs in 2019!

I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
2 days ago

She has matured so much from that little 16 year old that made the team in 2021. Her journey has not been easy and it’s been heartbreaking to watch and it makes sense why so many people were standing up and cheering for her last night.

VA Steve
Reply to  I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
2 days ago

Yes. I don’t understand how some have to say someone is “washed” after a subpar swim. Glad she has received some sports counseling to focus on the right things.

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

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