Swimming World Record Broken
Kate Douglass Sets New 50 Free World Record at Pan Pacific Preliminaries
Kate Douglass set a world record in the women's 50-meter freestyle at the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, California, clocking 23.49 seconds in the preliminary heats, according to AP. The 24-year-old New York City Olympic medalist broke the previous record held by her own teammate, Gretchen Walsh.
This is the second time Douglass has lowered the world record in the 50 free, according to Winnipeg Free Press. The swim came in a prelim heat — not even a final — making the performance all the more striking.
Douglass Breaks Teammate Walsh's Record at Pan Pacs
The previous world record in the 50 free was held by Gretchen Walsh, also an American swimmer, set at an international meet earlier this year, according to WRAL. Douglass topped that mark in a heat swim, meaning she still had the final ahead of her. Breaking a world record before the main event is rare.
The Pan Pacific Championships are held in Irvine, California. The meet brings together top swimmers from nations across the Pacific region. It is one of the biggest international swim competitions outside of the Olympics and World Championships.
Douglass Is a Two-Time World Record Holder in This Event
This is not the first time Douglass has rewritten the record books in this event. She has now broken the 50 free world record twice, according to Yakima Herald. That puts her in rare company. Very few swimmers break the same world record more than once.
Douglass is 24 years old and based in New York City. She is also an Olympic medalist, adding to a resume that now includes multiple world records. Her dominance in sprint freestyle swimming is growing fast.
American Women Dominate the Sprint Freestyle on World Stage
The fact that both Douglass and Walsh — two American teammates — have traded the world record in the 50 free shows how deep U.S. women's sprint swimming is right now, according to Click Orlando. Walsh set the record. Then Douglass took it back. Both swim for the United States.
The U.S. women have been dominant in short sprint events in recent years. With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon, this level of competition within the American team could push world records even lower. Douglass has already done it twice — there may be more to come.
Sentiment
NeutralPublishers
17
Articles
16
Reach
17
