How Fast Will Olympic Medalist Claire Curzan Swim At U.S. World Champ Trials?

Olympic medalist Claire Curzan of TAC Titans turned heads at San Antonio Pro Swim notching some fast in-season swims. Claire downed the 17-18 NAG in the 50m free dropping a 24.43. (Her PB is a 24.17.) She swam the fourth-fastest 17-18 100m free of all-time with a 53.68. (Her PB is 53.55.) She ripped a 58.7 100m back for the win. (That’s a PB. Her previous best was a 58.8.) And she won the 100m fly in 57 flat. (Her PB is a 56.2.)

Claire’s U.S. Olympic Trials was fast. She made the team and earned Olympic hardware, but U.S. Olympic Trials is stressful, especially your first one, and she didn’t earn a PB at that meet.  I think the past year of experience and development bodes well for Claire at the 2022 International Team Trials, aka  U.S. World Champs Trials.  Also, this selection meet is in her backyard, the Greensboro, N.C. pool.

Predictions! I don’t have a confirmation on her schedule, and I’m not predicting her place, only her times. While these might be a little optimistic, I’m looking at a best case scenario from a young talent still developing.
50 free – 24.1 – right on her PB
100 free – 53.2 – .3 shave off her PB
100 fly – 55.9 – .3 shave off her PB
50 fly? If she swims it… big flex…25.45… for a a new American Record.

But who cares what I think. It’s all about what you think. Drop your comments below.

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Swimfan
2 years ago

When is the preview for the national meet?

Wahooswimfan
2 years ago

US is blessed with a lot of rising young talent – Douglas, Walsh(s), Curzan, Huske – all excellent freestyle sprinters – will be interesting to see how Weitzel, Manual(?still swimming?), Comeford do relative to the younger talent – US needs a few breakthru swims in LCM to catch the Aussies. All 3 f the older ones have been 52+ in LCM, and I think this summer we will see 2-4 of the younger group also do so.

Bobo Gigi
2 years ago

The goal is to peak at worlds.
At worlds trials she has just to qualify.
And I hope she will not try to make the team in the biggest number of events possible.
It’s unlikely she performs at her best in the 100 free at worlds if she swims the 100 fly and 100 back before. She will have some choices to do. Especially for olympic games. Otherwise she will be very good in multiple events but never great in one or two. And she has the talent to win gold medals at worlds and olympics.
For this year she has the advantage of not having a full college season under her belt, didn’t have to… Read more »

Sherry Smit
Reply to  Bobo Gigi
2 years ago

humiliation”? The US got 3rd in the world. A Bronze medal is not humiliation

ReneDescartes
2 years ago

Probably as fast as I thought she was going to go at Trials.

chris
2 years ago

vewwwwy vewwwy fast.

Sherry Smit
2 years ago

Dang, the backstroke lineup is ridiculous. Regan Smith (57.5), Kathleen Baker (58.0), Olivia Smoliga (58.3), Rhyan White (58.4), Katharine Berkoff (58.6), Phoebe Bacon (58.6), Claire Curzan (58.7), Isabelle Stadden (58.9). Gretchen Walsh with a 49.0 SC time suggests a possible 58 mid, and there’s always gonna be that 15 y/o who’s gonna shock everyone and throw down a 58 to put the pressure on the top 8. Excited to see this race at trials, honestly any of these top 8 can make the team!

olivy
Reply to  Sherry Smit
2 years ago

The USA backstroke field is really stacked, but not all the names you mentioned will be close tho their PB. Smoliga didn’t look like she’s in that shape. And is Baker even swimming at all right now? It seems her wedding is scheduled in June/July.

Last edited 2 years ago by olivy
chris
Reply to  olivy
2 years ago

she hasn’t been in any big meets. She’s out of the equation.

shueib
Reply to  olivy
2 years ago

i think the covid really messed with the rythm of someone like regan smith who was just flying before then, and it seems to have affected her confidence too i think she can take down the world record in the 100m back shes still so young anyway, with regular and strong competition and the rythm of swimming regularly i back her to swim sub 58 regularly up to and including at
the worlds

asdf
Reply to  Sherry Smit
2 years ago

I feel like its common for these incredibly stacked events to end up slower than we expect because it’s rare for all swimmers to peak at the same race. Recall how hyped mens 100free was at US trials (people were saying it would take a 47.5 or better just to make the relay) and it took a 47.7 to take the individual cut

Bad Grammar
2 years ago

Cruzan will definitely swim fasterer or fasterest.

Swammer2009
2 years ago

Interesting philosophy with taper. It does work for her.

Hank
Reply to  Swammer2009
2 years ago

It works when you’re 17 at least!

Last edited 2 years ago by Hank

About Gold Medal Mel Stewart

Gold Medal Mel Stewart

MEL STEWART Jr., aka Gold Medal Mel, won three Olympic medals at the 1992 Olympic Games. Mel's best event was the 200 butterfly. He is a former World, American, and NCAA Record holder in the 200 butterfly. As a writer/producer and sports columnist, Mel has contributed to Yahoo Sports, Universal Sports, …

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