Fluidra Race Video of the Week: Kate Douglass Lowers Eight-Year-Old World Record In 100 Free

American superstar Kate Douglass made history last weekend during the second leg of the 2025 World Cup series in Westmont, Ill., breaking the world record in the women’s 100 freestyle (SCM).

Douglass, 23, put up a time of 50.19 to break the eight-year-old world record of 50.25, set by Australian Cate Campbell in 2017.

Douglass, whose previous best time stood at 50.76, also took down Gretchen Walsh‘s American Record of 50.31, set at the 2024 Short Course World Championships, where Douglass also set her previous PB.

Split Comparison

Douglass won the race handily over Australian Mollie O’Callaghan, who was the runner-up in 51.44. O’Callaghan was just one night removed from breaking the world record in the women’s 200 free, becoming the first swimmer sub-1:50 in 1:49.77.

RACE VIDEO

Courtesy of World Aquatics on YouTube

Douglass has won the 100 free at the first two stops of the World Cup, having claimed the event at the opening leg in Carmel in a time of 50.83, and has a chance to earn a Triple Crown this weekend in Toronto if she manages to pull off the sweep.

She’s also won the women’s 100 and 200 breaststroke at each of the first two legs of the series, giving her a shot at a trio of Triple Crowns in Toronto.

Additionally, Douglass, the defending overall World Cup women’s champion from 2024, is going into the Toronto leg ranked a close 2nd to Walsh in the series standings, sitting just 0.1 points back of her training partner.

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