University of Texas junior Will Modglin unleashed the fastest 50 backstroke swim in history in short course yards on Tuesday night during the opening session of the Texas Hall of Fame Invite, nearly breaking a monumental barrier.
Modglin, 21, clocked 20.00 leading off the Longhorn men’s 200 medley relay, overtaking NC State’s Aiden Hayes (20.07) for the fastest 50 back swim of all-time while falling just one one-hundredth shy of becoming the first man ever under the 20-second threshold.
Prior to this swim, Modglin’s fastest 50 back swim stood at 20.32, set at the 2025 Men’s NCAA Championships.
All-Time Performances, Men’s 50 Backstroke (SCY)
- Will Modglin (Texas), 20.00 – 2025 Texas Hall of Fame Invite
- Aiden Hayes (NC State), 20.07 – 2024 NCAAs
- Bjorn Seeliger (Cal), 20.08 – 2022 NCAAs
- Kacper Stokowski (NC State), 20.16 – 2022 NCAAs
- Adam Chaney (Florida), 20.19 – 2022 NCAAs
- Ryan Murphy (Cal), 20.20 – 2016 NCAAs
- Adam Chaney (Florida), 20.20 – 2025 ASU vs. UNLV
- Bjorn Seeliger (Cal), 20.22 – 2024 Cal vs. ASU
- Zane Waddell (Alabama), 20.22 – 2019 SECs
- Quintin McCarty (NC State), 20.24 – 2025 NCAAs
In the relay, Modglin was followed by Nate Germonprez (22.59), Kyle Peck (20.07) and Garrett Gould (18.45) as Texas put up a time of 1:21.11 to rank #1 in the NCAA so far this season.
RACE VIDEO
Courtesy of tamuswim on YouTube
Courtesy of David Johnston on YouTube
Modglin’s momentum continued on Wednesday, as he shattered his personal best time in the 100 breaststroke, clocking 51.46 in the prelims and then 50.91 en route to placing 3rd in the final, chopping two seconds off his previous best of 52.92 set back in March 2023. He also anchored the Longhorns’ winning 200 free relay with an 18.82 split.
On Thursday morning, Modglin broke the American Record in the 100 backstroke, producing a time of 43.26 to erase Luca Urlando‘s previous mark of 43.35. Modglin’s swim stands as the third-fastest in history, sitting six one-hundredths back of teammate Hubert Kos‘ NCAA Record of 43.20 set at the 2025 NCAA Championships.
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