Olivia Smoliga Knocks 4-Tenths of a Second Off Her American Record in 100 Back

2020 INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING LEAGUE FINAL – DAY 2

American backstroker Olivia Smoliga, racing this weekend for the Cali Condors at the 2020 International Swimming League final, started off the season very fast – breaking the American Record in the 50 back in the season-opener and almost taking down her own American Record in the 100 back.

While she’s continued to win, and that’s important in the ISL format, her times haven’t been quite at that level in this meet.

But on Sunday, in the final day of the final meet of the season, she swam a near-perfect race to crush her own American Record in the 100 back, swimming 55.04. That broke her own record of 55.47 set at the 2018 World Short Course Championships.

Splits Comparison:

Olivia Smoliga Olivia Smoliga
2018 Record 2020 Record
50m 26.77 26.50
100m 28.62 28.54
Final Time 55.47 55.04

Smoliga went out aggressively in her swim on Sunday, and was still able to finish faster than in her previous best time. It was the opener that returned her to fast swimming this season – in the semifinals, for example, she was out in 27.28 en route to a 55.99 finish.

Smoliga has 8 backstroke wins in 10 swims in her ISL career, including 4-of-5 this year after losing in Match 8.

The swim for Smoliga is also the 3rd-fastest performance in history.

All-Time Top 10, Women’s 100 SCM Backstroke, Top Performances:

  1. Minna Atherton, Australia, 2019 – 54.89
  2. Katinka Hosszu, Hungary, 2014 – 55.03
  3. Olivia Smoliga, United States, 2020 – 55.04
  4. Minna Atherton, Australia, 2019 – 55.09
  5. Minna Atherton, Australia, 2019 – 55.12
  6. Kira Toussaint, Netherlands, 2019 – 55.17
  7. Shiho Sakai, Japan, 2010 – 55.23
  8. Kira Toussaint, Netherlands, 2019 – 55.26
  9. Minna Atherton, Australia, 2019, – 55.29
  10. Emily Seebohm, Australia, 2014 – 55.31

Minna Atherton, who holds the World Record and 3 of the 5 best performances in history after a breakout year last season, isn’t participating in the 2020 season of the ISL, like most Australians.

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Coach Mike 1952
3 years ago

Great article for a charged-up champion. Typo in this sentence: “But on Sunday, in the final day of the final meet of the season, she swam a near-perfect race to crush her own World Record in the 100 back, swimming 55.04.”

it’s her American not world record (Minna Atherton)

Last edited 3 years ago by Coach Mike 1952
Coach Mike 1952
Reply to  Coach Mike 1952
3 years ago

The title correctly says American record too, so kindly change the article contents thanks

Last edited 3 years ago by Coach Mike 1952
Anzeo Jackson
3 years ago

Good site when it comes 2 swimming news and compitiation contest

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