Kate Douglass shocked everyone, even herself, on Friday night when she took down the world record in the women’s 50 freestyle at the Pro Swim Series stop in Indianapolis.
Douglass, 24, unleashed a time of 23.59 in the final, breaking Sarah Sjostrom‘s longstanding world record of 23.61 set back in 2017.
Douglass came into the night as the co-owner of the American Record with her personal best time of 23.91, set en route to winning silver at the 2024 World Championships behind Sjostrom.
In Indianapolis, Douglass touched first ahead of Virginia training partner Gretchen Walsh, the other co-owner of the 23.91 American Record coming in who clocked 23.78 to also go well under the previous national record.
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Courtesy of USA Swimming on YouTube
As Douglass vaults into the top spot all-time in the event, Walsh moves into a tie for the fifth-fastest woman ever. Coming into the meet, the two swimmers were tied for eighth all-time.
All-Time Performers, Women’s 50 Freestyle (LCM)
- Kate Douglass (USA), 23.59 – 2026 Pro Swim Series – Indianapolis
- Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 23.61 – 2017 World Championships
- Britta Steffen (GER), 23.73 – 2009 World Championships
- Pernille Blume (DEN), 23.75 – 2018 European Championships
- Cate Campbell (AUS) / Gretchen Walsh (USA), 23.78 – 2018 Commonwealth Games / 2026 Pro Swim Series – Indianapolis
Douglass said she was in “complete shock” after the race, noting that she never expected to break the world record in the 50 free.
Arguably the most versatile female swimmer in the world, Douglass also won the women’s 200 breast (2:21.65), 50 fly (25.39) and 200 IM (2:07.04) in Indianapolis, and added a 3rd-place finish in the 100 free (53.09).
Heading into the summer, all eyes will be on Douglass and what she plans to race at the Pan Pacific Championships in August, which features a schedule that lumps the final of three of her best events—50 free, 200 breast, 200 IM—into the same session.
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