Italian Teen Is a Double Record-Breaker

Sara Curtis broke the world record for the 50-meter backstroke two days in a row.

Sara Curtis celebrates a record-breaking swim on August 12, 2026.

Nineteen-year-old Sara Curtis jetted into swimming stardom after setting a new swimming world record twice in just two days. On August 12, the Italian swimmer beat the world record for the 50-meter backstroke, only to set an even faster time the very next day.

At the 2026 European Aquatics Championships in Paris, France, Curtis competed in the women’s semifinal round of the 50-meter backstroke, a sprint swim race from one end of the pool to the other. Curtis swam the distance in 26.63 seconds, a new world record. Her speed was 0.23 seconds faster than the previous record holder, Australian Kaylee McKeown. McKeown had set the 50-meter backstroke record at 26.86 seconds three years ago.

Curtis competes in the 50-meter backstroke at the 2026 European Aquatics Championships.

“I knew I was capable of doing it, but I didn’t expect it here, in this race, in this moment,” Curtis told European Aquatics after setting her first record. “I didn’t expect to go so fast and it’s just so awesome and I’m so happy! I can tell that I am superwoman right now. It’s unbelievable.”

But Curtis wasn’t finished. The next day, on August 13, she competed in the women’s final. Her stunning speed beat her day-old world record time, setting a new record at 26.56 seconds. She also won the gold medal for the event.

Curtis didn’t just set a world record. She also took home a gold medal.

Curtis’s thrilling double-whammy achievement has cemented her “superwoman” nickname. Born and raised in Savigliano, Italy, Curtis is now a competitive swimmer at the University of Virginia in the United States. At just 17 years old, she competed in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, reaching the semifinal round for one event and the final round for a relay. This year Curtis set multiple Italian and European swimming records for the backstroke and freestyle.

Now that she has added an individual world record to her list of achievements, everything seems to be going swimmingly for Curtis.

NEWS BREAK

Dolly Parton Dies

Dolly Parton performs live on stage in 1976.

Country music legend Dolly Parton, known as much for her kindness as for her musical talents, has died. She was 80.

Parton grew up in a log cabin in Tennessee as one of 12 children. She started singing in her grandfather’s church at an early age and soon learned how to play the guitar. At just 13 years old, she performed on a country music radio show called the Grand Ole Opry, which is now recorded at a famous theater by that name. Parton got a record deal in 1964, when she was 18, and soon became one of country music’s brightest stars.

Parton wrote numerous songs that have stood the test of time, including “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” and “Light of a Clear Blue Morning.” Her 1974 song “I Will Always Love You” became a hit a second time in 1992, when it was recorded by singer Whitney Houston.

In 1980, Parton made her acting debut in the movie 9 to 5 and contributed a song of the same title to the movie soundtrack. Both the movie and the song became hits. Parton would go on to act in several other movies.

In 1986, Parton opened a theme park called Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, close to her hometown. The music icon said it was her way of giving back to the people who helped make her dreams come true. Dollywood is not only a fun place to visit. It also brings tourists into the area and provides many jobs for Tennessee residents.

Dolly Parton reads Coat of Many Colors, a book she wrote, to a group of children in 2018.

Parton’s generosity extended far beyond Tennessee. In 1995, she launched Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a program that sends free books to young children. In 2020, when the virus that causes COVID-19 was spreading around the world, Parton donated $1 million to fund research for a vaccine. She also donated millions toward other medical research, as well as college scholarships.

Parton will be remembered as much for her generosity as for her contributions to music.

“I’m just so proud to have been a part of anything that’s good and that’s making life a little better for people,” she told Good Morning America in 2021.

Did You Know?

Competitive swimmers did not use goggles in races until the 1970s! Scottish swimmer David Wilkie became the first to wear goggles and a swim cap at the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Surf’s Pup! The 2026 Dog Surfing Championship

Rusty competes at the World Dog Surfing Championships on August 1, 2026.

Dogs were catching waves instead of Frisbees on August 1 at the 2026 World Dog Surfing Championships in Pacifica, California. Celebrating its 10th year of canines hanging ten, the event also raises money for local animal rescue charities.

During the competition, owners outfit their surfing pups in life jackets, load the dogs onto surfboards, and then give them a helpful push when the right wave comes. The dogs, which range in size from small to large breeds, stand or lie down on the boards as they rush toward the shore. Those who can stay on the board for the longest and with the best balance are named top dog, or the winner, in their size category. This year’s winners are Labrador retriever Rippin’ Rosie, mixed-breed Bradley “Shortboard” Cooper, and French bulldog Iza.

The 2026 competition is bittersweet for one competitor, a Labrador retriever named Charlie “Surf’s Up.” Since he started surfing in 2018, Charlie has been a popular fixture in California surfing competitions and enjoys carrying his own board along the beach. Now that Charlie is 11 years old, his owners have announced his retirement, making the 2026 event his last.

“The thing about Charlie is he really is so passionate about surfing,” said owner Maria Nieboer, in an interview with SF Gate. “His joy is what got him really popular.”

Dog surfing competitions began in 2006 in San Diego, California, and quickly spread around the world. Today these competitions take place worldwide on beaches from Australia to the United Kingdom.

Check out some photos of the world’s best surfing dogs!

Chasing Big Waves

Maya Gabiera rides a wave off the coast of Portugal.

While some surfers are always looking for the perfect wave to ride, Maya Gabeira seeks the tallest. The Brazilian surfer holds the record for the largest wave surfed by a woman—a wave that was nearly as tall as an eight-story building!

Read more about Gabeira’s life at Britannica.

WORD OF THE WEEK

zenith

PART OF SPEECH:

noun

Definition:

: the strongest or most successful period of time

Definitions provided by

Word Flower

How many words can you make with the letters in the flower? All words must use the letter in the center.

In Case You Missed It

A wild raccoon with a rare spinal condition has captured hearts on the Internet.

August 19, 2026

Women’s professional baseball returns to the United States after more than 70 years.

August 13, 2026

A new discovery finally reveals the hidden sixth sense that ensures homing pigeons are never lost.

July 30, 2026

Two teens from different countries find ways to protect their communities from dangerous weather.

July 23, 2026

How to Cite This Page

Here is how to cite this page using the MLA style. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some differences. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

“In the News: Italian Teen Is a Double Record-Breaker.” Britannica School, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 30 Aug. 2026. https://news.eb.com/level2/italian-teen-is-a-double-record-breaker Accessed 31 Aug. 2026 [Replace this date with today’s date.]