Kate Douglass Becomes 2nd-Fastest Performer in Women’s 100 IM, Shatters American Record

2024 WORLD AQUATICS SWIMMING WORLD CUP-SHANGHAI

Just a few hours after tying the American Record in prelims of the 100 IM in Shanghai, Kate Douglass blew through it to become the second woman in history under 57 seconds in the event.

Douglass swam 56.99, which sits behind just Katinka Hosszu‘s 56.51 from a 2017 stop of the World Cup Series in Berlin. Hosszu, who previously had the 13 best times in history, now only has the 7 best times in history – though she two has gone 56.99 twice.

Top 10 Performers All-Time, Women’s SCM 100 IM

  1. Katinka Hosszu, Hungary – 56.51
  2. Kate Douglass, USA – 56.99
  3. Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden – 57.10
  4. Beryl Gastaldello, France – 57.30
  5. Charlotte Bonnet, France – 57.47
  6. (TIE) Alicia Coutts, Australia/Marrit Steenbergen, Netherlands – 57.53
  7. (TIE) Mariia Kameneva, Russia/Siobhan-Marie O’Connor, Great Britain/Anastasiya Shkurdai, Belarus – 57.59

There was previously no American woman and only one non-European in the top 10 of this event all-time; Douglass was tied for the American Record in prelims at 57.72 with Beata Nelson. Nelson finished 5th on Friday in 58.10.

Douglass was out even a touch slower in finals than she was in prelims, turning only 5th at the halfway mark. She roared through the field with the fastest splits on both the breaststroke and freestyle legs, though, to win by more than half-a-second.

American Record Split Comparison

Kate Douglass Kate Douglass Beata Nelson
Shanghai – Finals Shanghai – Prelims
2021 ISL meet #18
50m 26.96 26.73 26.31
100m 30.03 30.99 31.41
Final 56.99 57.72 57.72

Douglass Prelims v. Finals

Kate Douglass Kate Douglass
Shanghai – Prelims
Shanghai – Finals
Fly 11.53 11.78
Back 15.43 14.95
Breast 16.32 16.90
Free 13.71 14.09
Final 56.99 57.72

The runner-up Yu Yuting set the Chinese and Asian Records in the event in 57.51.

The Douglass camp now says that it’s “highly likely” that she will swim this event at the World Short Course Championships. There, the versatile sprinter will be the heavy favorite – the previous most-recent time in the all-time top 25 performances was Beryl Gastaldello‘s 57.30 in 2020, which will be over four years old by the time Worlds comes around.

Douglass previously had never swum the 100 IM and therefore wasn’t eligible to race it at Worlds before Shanghai because she didn’t have a qualifying time.

Douglass also won the 200 breaststroke in 2:15.96 on Friday for another win. That was within half-a-second of Lilly King‘s official American Record of 2:15.56, though it is much further from American Rebecca Soni‘s World Record (and unofficial American Record) in the 200 breaststroke of 2:14.57.

Douglass’ swim in that race makes her the 8th-best performer in history.

Douglass is committed to swim all three stops of the World Cup and the World Short Course Swimming Championships in December in Budapest. The fall of racing ‘the circuit’ comes after a four-medal performance at the Paris Olympics, winning gold in the 200 breast and 400 medley relays and silver in the 200 IM and 400 free relays.

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VikingSteve
30 days ago

KD’s consistency is equally as impressive as her excellence!

oxyswim
30 days ago

Well that didn’t last long

Swimfan27
30 days ago

Let’s see what Gretchen does shortly. What’s the U.S. selection criteria for who gets to swim the 100 IM at SC Worlds? Is it Kate and Alex due to their 200 IM?

Kevin
Reply to  Swimfan27
30 days ago

Whoever is on the team and has a QT usually gets to swim it, last SC Worlds no one did so despite Kate and Alex being there the US didn’t have anyone in the race. Kate will almost definitely swim it and considering she just obliterated the WR at a dual meet hopefully Gretchen will find a way to get a QT logged and swim it

Aragon Son of Arathorne
30 days ago

what else is Kate swimming?

Stenn
Reply to  Aragon Son of Arathorne
30 days ago

Tomorrow 50 fly
Sunday 100 free and 200 im, but i think only 200 im

Alison England
30 days ago

I’ve never seen SS swim back or breast. I must try and find a video.

NornIron Swim
Reply to  Alison England
30 days ago

Assuming you mean Sjöström…
Hasn’t she gone sub 60 LCM for a 100bk?

jeff
Reply to  NornIron Swim
30 days ago

yeah, she’s the former Swedish record holder in that event

Caroswim
30 days ago

Why does Rebecca Soni not have the American record?

PK Doesn't Like His Long Name
30 days ago

Heavy favorite at worlds should have a 6’1 asterisk next to it.

Kevin
Reply to  PK Doesn't Like His Long Name
30 days ago

I don’t think either AWalsh or GWalsh are gonna have a qualifing time unless the SCM dual meet today gets counted. My understanding from prior articles is that it wasn’t qualifed/certified correctly with World Aquatics to count for QTs

artiebeer
30 days ago

She already was 8-th performer in 200 breast with 2.15,77 at SC Worlds in 2022.

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