Myrtha Pools reaches 195 world records at the Olympic Aquatic Centre

Italian swimmer Sara Curtis has set a new world record in the women’s 50m backstroke at the Olympic Aquatic Centre in Saint-Denis, bringing the number of world records achieved in Myrtha pools to 195. Curtis stopped the clock at 26.63 seconds during the semi-finals of the European Aquatics Championships on 12 August, improving on the previous world record of 26.86 set by Australia’s Kaylee McKeown in 2023. Her performance marked the first world record of the championships.

The achievement adds another chapter to the history of the Olympic Aquatic Centre, a venue originally developed for Paris 2024 and designed from the outset for long-term use beyond the event. At its heart is a 70-metre competition pool built with Myrtha modular stainless-steel technology and equipped with movable bulkheads and a movable floor, allowing the facility to adapt to different competition, training and community requirements.

Curtis’ performance also extends a record-breaking history spanning more than three decades. The first world record achieved in a Myrtha pool dates back to 1995, when Denis Pankratov set a new mark in the 200m butterfly. Since then, the tally has continued to grow across major international swimming competitions around the world.

In 2025, eight world records at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre brought the total to 193. In July 2026, Summer McIntosh’s 2:01.65 in the women’s 200m butterfly in Montréal became number 194. Curtis’ performance in Saint-Denis has now taken the count to 195 world records.

The latest milestone brings together two aspects that have long shaped Myrtha’s work in aquatic facilities: engineering pools for the highest levels of competition while designing infrastructure that can continue to serve athletes and communities well beyond a single event.

With racing at the Olympic Aquatic Centre continuing until 16 August, the 195th world record may not be the last milestone of the week.