French swimmer Mary-Ambre Moluh erased any uncertainty about who the European Record holder in the 100 backstroke is on Saturday when she won gold at the European Championships.
Moluh swam 57.94 to break the continental and meet records. The prior record was either her 57.99 that she swam in the leadoff leg of the 400 mixed medley relay or Kathleen Dawson‘s time of 58.08 from the 2021 European Championships.
The uncertainty stemmed from the fact that European Aquatics rules indicate that mixed medley relay leadoff times can’t count as European Records. That was contradicted by the European Aquatics press release and updated records on the results page.
While the matter of who holds the record now is partially academic – whether she broke it once or twice does still matter for three reasons. One being for the historical record, another being clearing up the current rule, and finally the fact that there is a €5,000 (USD $5,784) bonus for each individual European Record set at the meet.
Splits Comparison
50
100
Final Time
Moluh’s New European Record
27.73
30.21
57.94
Moluh’s mixed medley leadoff
28.04
29.95
57.99
Dawson’s Former European Record
28.23
29.85
58.08
Moluh’s Former Best Time
27.91
30.34
58.25
Moluh was out like a rocket in her latest swim, splitting 27.73 over the first 50 meters. That’s about three-tenths faster than she started in the mixed medley. While she paid for that strategy some on the back-half, she still had enough margin to break the record.
She is one of seven women in history to go faster than 58 seconds in the event. Her opening split is fast even by the standards of the field – for example, Regan Smith was just 27.94 when she set her World Record at 57.13. Kaylee McKeown split 27.92 at the halfway mark in her #2 all-time swim.
Even Katharine Berkoff, the defending World Champion in the 50 back, went out in 28.0 in her best 50 back swim a couple years ago, and 28.3 in her 57.93 to win Pan Pacs gold earlier this week.
All-Time Sub-58 Second Performers, Women’s 100 LCM Backstroke
Regan Smith, USA – 57.13 (2024)
Kaylee McKeown, Australia – 57.16 (2025)
Isabelle Stadden, USA – 57.55 (2026)
Kylie Masse, Canada – 57.70 (2021)
Katharine Berkoff, USA – 57.83 (2024)
Mollie O’Callaghan, Australia – 57.88 (2024)
Mary-Ambre Moluh, France – 57.94 (2026)
Moluh trains at the backstroke factory at Cal, where other swimmers like Ryan Murphy have been very good front-half racers in this event as well.
She led a 1-3 French finish in the race with Pauline Mahieu placing 3rd in 58.77. Marrit Steenbergen of the Netherlands finished 2nd.