Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Americans Sweep 100m Backstroke on Night Three of World Aquatics Championships
Results | U.S. Roster | U.S. Medalists
Men’s 200m Freestyle – FINAL
BRONZE – Luke Hobson (Reno, Nev./Longhorn Aquatics), 1:45.26
Hobson on his race: “Yeah, I mean it's a tough race. I was out really well and probably just seized the last little bit. That’s just because like of the spot where we’re at with training right now. I’m still happy to walk away with my first individual worlds medal and it’s been a great experience at this meet.”
Race Notes:
• The bronze is Hobson’s first individual World Aquatics Championships medal of his career.
• Hobson snaps the third-longest event medal drought for American men at World Championships; The U.S. hadn’t medaled since Townley Haas’ silver in 2017.
Women’s 1500m Freestyle – FINAL
9 – Kate Hurst (Hillsdale, N.J./Scarlet Aquatics), 16:17.83
– Kayla Han (La Mirada, Calif./Carmel Swim Club), 16:35.02
Race Notes:
• Competition marks the first senior-level, international meet for both Hurst and Han.
Men’s 50m Breaststroke – SEMIFINAL
3 – Nic Fink (Morristown, N.J./Metro Atlantic Aquatic Club), 26.78
T-11 – Michael Andrew (Encinitas, Calif./MA Swim Academy), 27.18
The final will be contested on Wednesday, February 14.
Women’s 100m Backstroke – FINAL
GOLD – Claire Curzan (Cary, N.C./University of Virginia), 58.29
Curzan on her time: “Anytime you get a best time, it’s obviously awesome. I'm really happy with how I split the race. I think that was one of the best second-50s I have ever had. I think that's kind of a testament to my training and I’m excited for what that means for the future.”
On her first individual world title: “It was awesome. Singing the national anthem and knowing I swam that was unlike anything I've ever done before or experienced, so hopefully I'll be able to do it again, but really happy with how it went.”
Race Notes:
• The gold marks Curzan’s first individual world title of her career.
• Curzan joins Regan Smith as the only Americans to win a world title in the event since 2015.
• Curzan shaved 0.06 seconds off her personal best.
Men’s 100m Backstroke – FINAL
GOLD – Hunter Armstrong (Dover, Ohio/New York Athletic Club), 52.68
8 – Jack Aikins (Atlanta, Ga./Swim Atlanta), 54.50
Armstrong on following Curzan’s gold with his own: “The U.S. has always had a backstroke legacy and I take a lot of pride in contributing to that. It was incredibly special being able to watch Claire in the previous heat take gold, and I had a little pressure because of that. It’s definitely a testament to the United States of backstroke so I'm proud to be part of that.”
Race Notes:
• This is the third World Championships since 2007 (Aaron Peirsol and Natalie Coughlin in 2007, Matt Grevers and Missy Franklin in 2013) where the U.S. has won both 100m backstroke races.
• Armstrong medals in the event for the third-straight World Championships after winning bronze in 2022 and 2023.
• The U.S. wins its second-consecutive world title in the event, following Ryan Murphy’s gold in 2023.
• Armstrong wins his 10th World Aquatics Championships medal, tied for ninth on the all-time list of American medalists in competition history.
Women’s 200m Freestyle – SEMIFINAL
12 – Addison Sauickie (Sarasota, Fla./Sarasota Sharks), 1:58.51
Men’s 200m Butterfly – SEMIFINAL
11 – Zach Harting (Huntsville, Ala./Cardinal Aquatics), 1:56.81
Women’s 100m Breaststroke – FINAL
18 – Piper Enge (Mercer Island, Wash./Bellevue Club Swim Team), 1:08.14
USA Swimming athletes Claire Curzan (Clary, N.C./University of Virginia) and Hunter Armstrong (Dover, Ohio/New York Athletic Club) swept gold in the 100-meter backstroke events. Luke Hobson (Reno, Nev./Longhorn Aquatics) earned bronze in the men’s 200m freestyle.
A look at the U.S. team medal table after day three in Qatar:
| Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total | |
| United States | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
Men’s 200m Freestyle – FINAL
BRONZE – Luke Hobson (Reno, Nev./Longhorn Aquatics), 1:45.26
Hobson on his race: “Yeah, I mean it's a tough race. I was out really well and probably just seized the last little bit. That’s just because like of the spot where we’re at with training right now. I’m still happy to walk away with my first individual worlds medal and it’s been a great experience at this meet.”
Race Notes:
• The bronze is Hobson’s first individual World Aquatics Championships medal of his career.
• Hobson snaps the third-longest event medal drought for American men at World Championships; The U.S. hadn’t medaled since Townley Haas’ silver in 2017.
Women’s 1500m Freestyle – FINAL
9 – Kate Hurst (Hillsdale, N.J./Scarlet Aquatics), 16:17.83
– Kayla Han (La Mirada, Calif./Carmel Swim Club), 16:35.02
Race Notes:
• Competition marks the first senior-level, international meet for both Hurst and Han.
Men’s 50m Breaststroke – SEMIFINAL
3 – Nic Fink (Morristown, N.J./Metro Atlantic Aquatic Club), 26.78
T-11 – Michael Andrew (Encinitas, Calif./MA Swim Academy), 27.18
The final will be contested on Wednesday, February 14.
Women’s 100m Backstroke – FINAL
GOLD – Claire Curzan (Cary, N.C./University of Virginia), 58.29
Curzan on her time: “Anytime you get a best time, it’s obviously awesome. I'm really happy with how I split the race. I think that was one of the best second-50s I have ever had. I think that's kind of a testament to my training and I’m excited for what that means for the future.”
On her first individual world title: “It was awesome. Singing the national anthem and knowing I swam that was unlike anything I've ever done before or experienced, so hopefully I'll be able to do it again, but really happy with how it went.”
Race Notes:
• The gold marks Curzan’s first individual world title of her career.
• Curzan joins Regan Smith as the only Americans to win a world title in the event since 2015.
• Curzan shaved 0.06 seconds off her personal best.
Men’s 100m Backstroke – FINAL
GOLD – Hunter Armstrong (Dover, Ohio/New York Athletic Club), 52.68
8 – Jack Aikins (Atlanta, Ga./Swim Atlanta), 54.50
Armstrong on following Curzan’s gold with his own: “The U.S. has always had a backstroke legacy and I take a lot of pride in contributing to that. It was incredibly special being able to watch Claire in the previous heat take gold, and I had a little pressure because of that. It’s definitely a testament to the United States of backstroke so I'm proud to be part of that.”
Race Notes:
• This is the third World Championships since 2007 (Aaron Peirsol and Natalie Coughlin in 2007, Matt Grevers and Missy Franklin in 2013) where the U.S. has won both 100m backstroke races.
• Armstrong medals in the event for the third-straight World Championships after winning bronze in 2022 and 2023.
• The U.S. wins its second-consecutive world title in the event, following Ryan Murphy’s gold in 2023.
• Armstrong wins his 10th World Aquatics Championships medal, tied for ninth on the all-time list of American medalists in competition history.
Women’s 200m Freestyle – SEMIFINAL
12 – Addison Sauickie (Sarasota, Fla./Sarasota Sharks), 1:58.51
Men’s 200m Butterfly – SEMIFINAL
11 – Zach Harting (Huntsville, Ala./Cardinal Aquatics), 1:56.81
Women’s 100m Breaststroke – FINAL
18 – Piper Enge (Mercer Island, Wash./Bellevue Club Swim Team), 1:08.14
The 2024 World Aquatics Championships continues through February 18, with prelims beginning each day at 1:30 a.m. ET and finals beginning at 11 a.m. ET. All sessions are streamed live on Peacock.
Keep up with all the latest USA Swimming news by following @usaswimming on Facebook, X, and Instagram.