Douglass AR boosts for US sprint group for Paris 2024
Kate Douglass set a New National record at the 2024, World Aquatics Championship in Doha. Douglass has reached the individual medal podium for the third time this week at the World Championships, and she did so in record-breaking fashion. In the 50 freestyle final, Douglassโ final race of the eight-day meet, the 22-year-old American got off to a sizzling start, and while she could not hold off sprint superstar Sarah Sjostrom, she did become the quickest U.S. swimmer in history.
Douglass touched in 23.91 to take down the American record of 23.97 set by Simone Manuel at the 2017 World Championships, a meet where Manuel won bronze behind Sjostrom and Ranomi Kromowidjojo. No other American had ever broken 24, with Abbey Weitzeil coming the closest at last yearโs U.S. Nationals where she clocked 24.00. Douglass’s improvement is a huge boost for the USA Sprint team which seems capable of competing with Australia.
Douglass has now knocked a half-second off her best time in the 50 free over the past three months to become the eighth-fastest woman ever in the event. She swam a lifetime best of 24.38 at the U.S. Open in early December, where she beat her top American rivals including Weitzeil and Torri Huske, and then in the early rounds in Doha, Douglass went 24.19 and 24.24. But that was a precursor to her sub-24 finals swim. Douglass now looks like the favorite to win the 50 free at this yearโs U.S. Olympic Trials, although itโs worth noting the event will conflict with the 200 IM in the race program.
Her successful performance at the World Championships in Doha began with gold in the 200 individual medley, and Douglass continued wracking up medals throughout the week. On night six, Douglass took fourth in a tight 100-free final before coming back minutes later to earn silver in the 200 breaststroke. The 50 free bronze gives Douglass an individual medal in three different disciplines this week, joining Tracy Caulkins as the only American woman to ever pull off that feat.
Among Douglass, Tori Huske, Clarie Curzan, Gretchen Walsh, and Regan Smith are improving this season.
Huske seems to be 52 mid or lower in summer, while Walsh in Season form is also good. If she converts her superiority of SCY to LCM, she is also capable of a low 52. Curzan has also shown improvement after moving to UVA. Manuel is returning and Witzell is in constant sub 53 in the taper meet.
Among them, Douglass, Walsh, Manuel, Witzell, husse, and Curzan are in form. Four of them are likely to go sub-53 in summer. It means the USA is capable of beating Australia in the Olympic game in the 400 female free relay after 2000.