WATCH: Kate Douglass records 4th-best time ever in 200m breaststroke at Pro Swim Series 2024
Kate Douglass recently smashed an 11-year-old American record at Knoxville's 2024 TYR Pro Swim Series. The 2020 Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist swam perfectly in the 200m breaststroke to become the fourth-fastest performer in history.
On Day 4 of the championship, Kate Douglass recorded a magnificent 2:19.30 in the 200m breaststroke, creating a new American and US Open record. She surpassed former swimmer Rebecca Soni’s long-standing timing of 2:19.59 from the 2012 London Olympics got her the gold medal in the race. Moreover, Douglass also smashed Soni’s US Open record of 2:20.38 from 2009.
The swimmer’s timing also took down the Pro Swim Series record of 2:20.77 set by Annie Lazor in 2019.
On Saturday, Kate Douglass began the 200m breaststroke race with an opening split of 32.01 followed by 35.04/35.92/36.33 splits. With her sheer focus and immaculate speed, Douglass touched the finishing wall far before second-placed Lilly King and third-placed Mona McSharry.
King’s recorded timing was 2:24.34, whereas McSharry swam 2:25.84 leaving behind Ella Nelson at 2:26:28.
Douglass currently occupies the fourth place in the 200m breaststroke’s ‘best time ever list.’ Russia’s Evgeniia Chikunova currently holds the top spot with 2:17.55 in 2023. Followed by her is another Russian swimmer, Tatjana Schoenmaker’s 2:18.95 from 2021. Denmark’s Rikke Pedersen holds the third spot with 2:19.11 from 2013.
Kate Douglass’s achievements so far
The 22-year-old Kate Douglass won her first Olympic bronze medal in the 200m Individual Medley at the 2020 Summer Olympics. She also won three world championship medals in 2022 - three bronze medals in 200m breaststroke, 4x100m freestyle, and 4x100m mixed freestyle.
Douglass bagged six medals at the 2023 World Championship - gold in 200m medley and 4x100m medley, silver in 200m breaststroke, 4x100m freestyle, 4x100m mixed freestyle, and a bronze in 4x100m mixed medley.
She recently finished her NCAA career at the University of Virginia which lasted from 2019 to 2023.
Last year, Douglass shared her plan ahead of her last NCAA championship. In an interview with Social Kick podcast, she said:
"It's just kind of crazy that this will be my last college meet ever."
She added:
"As of now, I plan to stay and train at Virginia and get my masters in statistics. I am looking forward to focusing on long course, and having more flexibility in my schedule to travel and attend meets."