MacNeil Downs Canadian, Curzan Resets World Junior Record In 100 Fly Final

2021 FINA SHORT COURSE SWIMMING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Maggie MacNeil and Claire Curzan continued their record-setting ways in the final of the women’s 100 butterfly at the 2021 Short Course World Championships in Abu Dhabi, as MacNeil won gold in a new national record and Curzan re-broke her World Junior Record to claim bronze.

MacNeil, who has been on fire at these championships, highlighted by her world record swim last night in the 50 backstroke, came back from fourth at the 50m wall to win the title in a time of 55.04, getting well under her previous Canadian Record of 55.30 set in October at the Berlin stop of the FINA World Cup circuit.

The 21-year-old’s victory makes her the reigning Olympic champion, long course world champion, short course world champion and NCAA champion in the women’s 100 butterfly.

Split Comparison

The key for MacNeil in setting the record was the opening 50, where she was two-tenths quicker than her swim two months ago.

MacNeil, 2021 FINA World Cup MacNeil, 2021 SC Worlds
25.97 25.77
29.33 29.27
55.30 55.04

For Curzan, she put up a time of 55.39 to win the bronze medal, downing the World Junior Record of 55.64 that she tied in the semi-finals.

That mark previously belonged to Belarusian Anastasiya Shkurdai, set last year, and has also been produced by Japan’s Rikako Ikee on two occasions when she was eligible to break WJRs, but those records were never ratified by FINA.

Split Comparison

The 17-year-old Curzan was significantly faster on the back-half of her race in the final compared to the semis. This was also notably her second and four races during the last finals session in Abu Dhabi.

Curzan, Semi-Finals Curzan, Final
25.55 25.65
30.09 29.74
55.64 55.39

Sweden’s Louise Hansson was the runner-up to MacNeil in 55.10, dipping under her previous best time of 55.26 set during the ISL regular season in September.

MacNeil’s swim moves her up from eighth into third all-time in the event, while Hansson jumps from seventh into a tie for fifth. Curzan is now tied for 12th all-time with Australian Emma McKeon.

All-Time Performers, Women’s 100 Fly (SCM)

  1. Kelsi Dahlia (USA), 54.59 – 2021 ISL Final
  2. Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 54.61 – 2014 SC Worlds
  3. Maggie MacNeil (CAN), 55.04 – 2021 SC Worlds
  4. Diane Bui Duet (FRA), 55.05 – 2009 SC Euros
  5. Jeanette Ottesen (DEN) / Louise Hansson (SWE), 55.10 – 2015 Duel In The Pool / 2021 SC Worlds
  6. Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 55.12 – 2016 SC Worlds
  7. Lu Ying (CHN), 55.25 – 2014 SC Worlds
  8. Alicia Coutts (AUS), 55.30 – 2013 FINA World Cup – Tokyo
  9. Rikako Ikee (JPN), 55.31 – 2018 FINA World Cup – Tokyo

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zdhamme86
2 years ago

Do you ever post anything that isn’t creepy?

Swim fast
2 years ago

Curzan-6 medals, 1 American Record, 3 WJR’s
At age 17. Inspiring to say the least.

Swim fast
2 years ago

What an amazing meet Claire Curzan!

The condors were robbed
Reply to  Swim fast
2 years ago

Age ain’t nothing but a number, she is a world class swimma

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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