Recently on the SwimSwam podcast (full episode out next week), Todd DeSorbo revealed that the Virginia-Florida dual meet on October 18 would be in SCM (as opposed to the typical SCY). This means that US swimmers on both teams vying to swim the 100 IM at the Short Course World Championships in December will now have a domestic opportunity to nab the AQUA ‘A’ cut.
***Of note, the UVA-UF dual meet would have to be a WA-approved qualifying meet in order for anyone to use times swum at the meet to enter SC Worlds with***
This potentially opens the door for UVA standout Gretchen Walsh, the 2nd fastest woman in history in the 100 IM SCY, to nab one of those spots. Theoretically, the other spot could be taken by her now pro training bud, Kate Douglass (the fastest woman in history in the 100 IM SCY), who will compete abroad at the World Cup this fall.
Come December, we could see a Douglass-Walsh showdown in Budapest for this women’s 100 IM. At the VERY least, we could see both athletes compete in the 100 IM SCM this fall.
With neither athlete having swum the 100 IM SCM seriously in the past, the 7-year-old world record held by Iron Lady Katinka Hosszu could be in trouble. The World Record currently stands at 56.51… What do you think Walsh or Douglass could go???
I mean Gretchen and Douglass are known for good underwaters… this should be a good showdown!
Anyone think in 4-5 years that Summer could do great 100IM with her overall strength developed making her under-waters stronger?
I mean she could do a good 100IM, because she’s a great swimmer. However, she isn’t a sprinter at all, and she has said many times that even the 2IM feels quite sprint-esque to her
That’s a hard one, Kate is a better IM swimmer and has more 200 endurance. Walsh’s underwaters are on another level, though. I think Kate will pull ahead on the breast and close it out for the win, if the back half of Walsh’s 200 free is any indication.
It’s a 100, though. I think Gretchen gets the win because her fly is better than Kate’s, and her backstroke is much better than Kate’s.
But why is this meet at 1pm on a Friday?! Those with 9-5 jobs want to attend!
KD is obviously the better IM swimmer but I’m betting on Gretchy for the 100 based on pure speed and underwaters. It’s the same as Dressel/Marchand, where Marchand is the better IMer by a long shot but won’t be able to break Daddy D’s SCM 100 IM WR
That was my take at first, but the more I think about it, I think Kate can make up ground on the crossover turn and breast pullout and will likely be quicker at the wall on the breast-free turn. She’ll also be more dialed into SCM racing from World Cup season, so she may hit her timing at the walls better. It could be insanely close at the end. Please, please let this race happen!
But will it be a legal bk-brst turn or will we have the traditional “very lenient” ncaa dual meet officials?
You’re forgetting that KD is American record holder in the 50 free, so it’s not like she can’t sprint/doesn’t have underwaters.
yea in long course… who has it short course? you’re proving my point
Gretchen would take KD in a 100IM
Gretchen Walsh or Kate Douglass will break some form of American/US Open/World Record at this meet. Book it. Invest early while you still can
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think the 100 IM A Cut would only count if it’s done at a “ World Aquatics approved meet”. The Virginia Florida dual meet on October 18 does not appear on the WA website for approved meets.
Remember when USA Swimming selected Carson foster to swim the 200 fly at last SC worlds, only for Mintenko to realize that his time was done at “Sectionals” which is not approved by WA. Zach Harting ended up taking his spot.
Therefore only Douglass will have the opportunity to swim the 100 IM at Worlds, because she’s going to swim it at the World Cups.
This was an oversight on my part, thank you for bringing it up!
On another note… what will it take to get UVA-UF WA approved?!?!?
6 month heads up to world aquatics organization.
No, probably just an application accompanied by a hefty fee (fees are necessary to fund the lavish travel and entertainment expenses for WA board members).
https://resources.fina.org/fina/document/2024/01/29/2b4f5bea-f965-411c-8fae-6d33bda64b85/Competition-Regulations-version-1st-January-2024-_-Publishing_V3.pdf
NO!
https://swimswam.com/kate-douglass-clocks-51-97-100-yard-im-becomes-first-woman-under-52-seconds/
Kate Douglass has the fastest 100 IM time!
KD has fastest time, true. But GW has faster times in 50 and 100 of all strokes but breast. Either way, it’ll be a great race.
I like Walsh better, I was just disagreeing with the misinformation in the article. I agree, it will be a great race.
In what course?
SCY which is about as close to SCM as you can get – less than 7 feet per length, so I feel safe in giving GW the edge in the 100 SCM race.
Not so sure on the last 25 Free (where the stamina was for the 50 LCM may come in). Be great fun though.
Thank you, article fixed!