Gretchen Walsh and Kate Douglass kicked off the 2025 World Cup circuit with a bang last weekend in Carmel, as the American duo won three events apiece on home soil to grab hold of the top two spots in the overall series rankings.
The lone race in which they went head-to-head was the women’s 100 IM, where they came in as the two fastest performers in history.
Last year, after Douglass won the event three straight times on the World Cup circuit, Walsh won gold and broke the world record at the Short Course World Championships in Budapest, clocking a time of 55.11 in the final to lower the mark of 55.71 she established one night earlier in the semis.
Douglass set a personal best time of 56.49 in the final at SC Worlds, overtaking former world record holder Katinka Hosszu (56.51) for #2 on the all-time performers’ list.
Racing head-to-head once again on Friday in Carmel, Walsh grabbed the early lead on the butterfly leg, extended it on backstroke and then essentially held Douglass at bay on breast, turning with a lead of nine-tenths going into the freestyle leg.
Despite Douglass making up nearly half a second over 25 meters of free, Walsh held strong to pick up the victory in a time of 55.91, breaking Hosszu’s World Cup Record of 56.51 from 2017 for the third-fastest performance ever.
Walsh also lowered her own U.S. Open Record of 55.98, set during a college dual meet last October when she initially grabbed hold of the world record.
Douglass set a personal best time of 56.34 to place 2nd.
All-Time Performances, Women’s 100 IM (SCM)
- Gretchen Walsh (USA), 55.11 – 2024
- Gretchen Walsh (USA), 55.71 – 2024
- Gretchen Walsh (USA), 55.91 — 2025
- Gretchen Walsh (USA), 55.98 – 2024
- Gretchen Walsh (USA), 56.06 – 2024
- Kate Douglass (USA), 56.34 — 2025
- Kate Douglass (USA), 56.49 – 2024
- Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 56.51 – 2017
- Kate Douglass (USA), 56.57 – 2024
- Katinka Hosszu (HUN) / Beryl Gastaldello (FRA), 56.67 – 2015 / 2024
RACE VIDEO
Courtesy of World Aquatics on YouTube
Walsh also won gold in the women’s 50 fly, setting a new world record in a time of 23.72, and the 100 fly, where she lowered the World Cup and U.S. Open Record in 53.69.
The 100 IM was Douglass’ lone defeat of the competition, as she rolled to victories in the women’s 100 free (50.83), 100 breast (1:02.90) and 200 breast (2:13.97), the 100 free and 200 breast swims marking new U.S. Open Records.
The second leg of the World Cup kicks off on Friday and runs through Sunday in Westmont, Ill., with Walsh (59.1) holding a slight lead over Douglass (58.9) in the overall series standings.
ABOUT FLUIDRA
At Fluidra, our mission is to create the perfect pool experience for all aquatic enthusiasts, from recreational swimmers to competitive athletes. We believe the perfect race starts with the perfect pool, which is why we provide superior, high-performance equipment and accessories. Whether for racing or relaxation, our leading brands — including S.R. Smith, Jandy, and Polaris and more — ensure an optimal aquatic environment, enhancing every swim experience.
SOCIAL
LINKEDIN: @Fluidra North America
FACEBOOK: @Fluidra North America
YOUTUBE: @FluidraNorthAmerica
INSTAGRAM @jandypool
FACEBOOK: @srsmithpools
INSTAGRAM: @srsmithpools
YOUTUBE: @srsmith
Fluidra is a SwimSwam Partner.
