ZUMO Performance of the Week: Minna Atherton Breaks First World Record at ISL

Minna Atherton became the first swimmer to break a world record at an ISL event. Photo Courtesy: Gian Mattia D'Alberto/LaPresse

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This week’s ZUMO Performance of the Week goes to Minna Atherton of the London Roar and Australia, who became the first swimmer to officially break a world record in an International Swimming League meet. Atherton swam a 54.89 in the 100 back short course meters to take down Katinka Hosszu’s 55.03 from the 2014 World Championships.

Atherton has been on a tear this month as she made her ISL debut with her team, the London Roar last week in Dallas, moving into the top ten all-time in both the 100 and 200 backstroke in short course meters. Atherton was just four tenths off Hosszu’s world record last week in Dallas as she collected three individual wins for her team.

She followed that up with three more wins in Budapest, sweeping the three backstroke events in Hungary. She improved her 200 back best time to put her up from sixth to third all-time at 1:59.48, just missing Hosszu’s world record by two tenths. Atherton continued that upward trend into the 100 back, where she shaved six tenths off her best time to become the first woman to break 55 seconds in the 100 back, swimming a 54.89.

Atherton’s time will officially count as a world record, FINA was able to confirm to Swimming World. The governing body of the sport indicated that any world records set in ISL meets during the same time as FINA sanctioned meets will not officially count. Katie Ledecky of the DC Trident nearly broke the 400 free world record at the first ISL meet in Indianapolis, but had she gone under Ariarne Titmus’ world record, the swim would not have counted as an official world record because there was a FINA World Cup meet going on the same weekend in Budapest.

Top 10 All-Time Women’s 100 Back (SCM)

54.89, Minna Atherton, AUS (2019)
55.03, Katinka Hosszu, HUN (2014)
55.23, Shiho Sakai, JPN (2009)
55.31, Emily Seebohm, AUS (2014)
55.47, Olivia Smoliga, USA (2018)
55.48, Gao Chang, CHN (2009)
55.54, Daryna Zevina, UKR (2014)
55.91, Kathleen Baker, USA (2018)
55.92, Courtney Bartholomew, USA (2015)
55.92, Kira Toussaint, NED (2018)

Congrats to Minna Atherton on winning the ZUMO Performance of the Week!

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Previous ZUMO Performances of the Week

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ZUMO Performance of the Week: Minna Atherton Moves to Fourth All-Time in 100 Back SCM in ISL Debut

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ZUMO Performance of the Week: Caeleb Dressel’s 20.6 50 Free ISL Debut

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ZUMO Performance of the Week: Florent Manaudou Wins 50 Free Skins at ISL

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