By the time she competed at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she reached the women’s 50m freestyle semi-finals, Italy’s Sara Curtis had won four world junior medals and nine European junior medals.

She finished 2024 by earning her first senior international medal – a 4x50m mixed freestyle gold at the World Aquatics Championships (25m) in Budapest.

And she won her first senior individual medals at last December’s European Aquatics Short Course Championships in Lublin, including 50m backstroke gold in a European record of 25.49.

In June she set a European long course record at the Sette Colli International in Rome as she clocked 27.07 for the women’s 50m backstroke, taking 0.03 off the European mark set in 2021 by Kira Touissant of The Netherlands.

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who attended the session as a spectator, descended poolside after the race to present Curtis with her medal.

Now the 19-year-old, based at the University of Virginia, is looking forward to making even more of a splash at the European Aquatics Championships Paris 2025.

After earning European and world junior medals you broke through last year to earn your first senior individual medals at the EA Short Course Championships. How hard was it to make this transition, and was the most challenging part of it physical or mental?

Making this transition has been the result of a lot of hard work both inside and outside the pool. I think the decision to go to UVA (University of Virginia) has been one of the main reasons for my progression.

Training every day with such an amazing group of girls has motivated me a lot and helped me develop a much more positive attitude in practice.

I started swimming nine times a week, lifting four times a week, and doing dryland training twice a week, and that helped me improve my technique, endurance, and attention to detail in my races.

Studying and swimming on the other side of the world has also made me much more independent, and it has forced me to face different challenges that helped me become mentally stronger.

Who has most helped you in this process?

My teammates have helped me the most throughout this process. They have always supported me both in practice and in everyday life.

My coaches have also played a huge role by constantly pushing me beyond my limits and helping me improve every day. And of course, my family and friends back home have always been there for me and truly understand how much hard work and sacrifice are behind all of this.

You won SEVEN medals in Lublin! Did you dream you could do so well – and what were the highlight performances for you?

I thought I could do well because I was swimming really fast in practice.

I got a fever during the last two days of the competition, but even though I felt super weak I really wanted to prove to myself that I could still perform at a high level.

I’m very proud of how I handled those moments, and overall everything went beyond my expectations.

My relay leg in the 4×50 freestyle medley relay and the 50m backstroke were probably the highlight performances for me.

Your European women’s short course 50m backstroke record only stood for a short time in Lublin before Marrit Steenbergen took 0.02 off it in the women’s 4x50m medley relay. Do you have plans to regain it?

Absolutely! I’m looking forward to taking it back.

What are your ambitions now for Paris 2026 – and beyond?

I expect myself to be ready and confident, and to keep competing among the fastest swimmers in my events.

After breaking the European 50m backstroke record in Rome I intend to push the record even lower in Paris. 

Will you be able to have friends/family watching you in Paris?

Yes! My parents and some friends will come to cheer for me.

Are there any particular places or sights you have enjoyed in Paris, and do you plan to see any this summer?

I’ve already been to Paris for the Olympic Games in 2024, but I’m looking forward to taking some more pictures under the Eiffel Tower this summer!

Swimming at the European Aquatics Championships Paris 2026 will run from August 10 to 16.

Mike Rowbottom for European Aquatics