Stadden took a few months off and only joined Virginia’s pro group a few months ago. She dropped over a second in the 200 back tonight. Archive photo via Jack Spitser/Spitser Photography
2026 Pro Swim Series – Westmont
- Wednesday, March 4 – Saturday, March 7, 2026
- FMC Aquatic Center, Westmont, Illinois
- Long Course Meters (50 meters)
- Results on Meet Mobile: “2026 TYR Pro Swim Series – Westmont”
- Live Recaps
- Prelims: Day 1
- Finals: Day 1
Isabelle Stadden swam to a huge best time with a 2:05.9 in the 200 backstroke to finish 2nd in the event at the 2026 Pro Series stop in Westmont. That dropped from her previous best time of a 2:07.28 that has stood since May 2021. The time drop comes only a few months after taking most of the summer off and relocating to join the Virginia pro group in Charlottesville, VA.
In addition to being a lifetime best, the swim is also a big improvement from her time of a 2:10.50 that she swam for 12th at 2025 US Summer Nationals for 12th. Her time tonight would have been 3rd in finals, only behind Claire Curzan (2:05.09) and Regan Smith (2:05.84).
Tonight’s swim is not the only instance in which Stadden has already improved while training in Charlottesville. According to teammate Gretchen Walsh‘s TikTok on February 15th, Stadden swam to a time of a 1:48.80 in the SCY 200 backstroke during a suited up swim during practice. Stadden’s best time in the SCY 200 back is a 1:48.75 from 2023 Pac-12s from her junior season, and was slightly off that with a 1:49.19 as a senior and a 1:49.96 as a fifth year…