Beata Nelson Becomes 4th Woman to Break 50 in 100 Backstroke – 49.78

2018 WOMEN’S B1G TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

• February 14-17, 2018
• Columbus, Ohio
• McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion
• Live Results
• Championship Central
• Live Stream (BTN Plus subscription required)

We knew she was having a great year, and tonight Beata Nelson has dropped the hammer.

The Wisconsin sophomore, after breaking her 200 IM school record by over a full second with a 1:53.85, unleashed a 49.78 100 backstroke to lead off Wisconsin’s 400 medley relay at the end of the session.

SPLITS

• 24.07/25.71

Nelson was out in a 24.07, and came back hard with a 25.71 to put together her time of 49.78, the second-fastest time ever done. Nelson becomes just the fourth woman to ever break 50 in the 100 back, and the third woman to do so since March of 2017. Ally Howe was the second woman to break 50 after the legendary Natalie Coughlin did so in 2002 (49.97), meaning Coughlin’s record stood for well over a decade.

Howe was 49.69 at Pac-12s last February, a time that still stands as the American record.

Kathleen Baker then went 49.80 and 49.84 at the 2017 NCAA Championships, as she was the third woman to break 50. Nelson is now the fourth, but her time is the second-fastest in history.

TOP PERFORMANCES 100 BACK ALL-TIME

1. Ally Howe – 49.69 (2017)
2. Beata Nelson – 49.78 (2018)
3. Kathleen Baker – 49.80 (2017)
4. Kathleen Baker – 49.84 (2017)
5. Natalie Coughlin – 49.97 (2002)

Nelson’s time is also a huge Big Ten record– she already had it with her 50.79 from December, and before Nelson, the record was IU grad Brooklynn Snodgrass’s 51.05.

Race Video:

She's the champ!

A day after swimming the fastest 100 backstroke in conference history, Beata Nelson is on top of the #B1G medal stand!#OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/MGTWVqjNxH

— Wisconsin Swimming & Diving (@BadgerSwimDive) February 17, 2018