2025 World Championships
- July 27 – August 3, 2025 (pool swimming)
- Singapore, Singapore
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WOMEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – FINAL
- World Record: 2:17.55, Evgeniia Chikunova (RUS) – 2023
- World Junior Record: 2:19.64, Viktoriya Zeynep Gunes (TUR) – 2015
Championship Record: 2:19.11, Rikke Pedersen (DEN) – 2013- 2023 World Champion: Tatjana Smith (RSA), 2:20.80
- 2024 Olympic Champion: Kate Douglass (USA), 2:19.24
- Kate Douglass (USA), 2:18.50 CR
- Evgeniia Chikunova (NAB), 2:19.96
- Kaylene Corbett (RSA) / Alina Zmushka (NAA), 2:23.52
- –
- Angharad Evans (GBR), 2:24.21
- Kotryna Teterevkova (LTU), 2:24.25
- Ellie McCartney (IRL), 2:25.22
- Clara Rybak-Andersen (DEN), 2:25.36
Kate Douglass broke her own American Record as well as the Championship Record previously held by Rikee Pedersen as Douglass swam to a 2:18.50 to win gold in the 200 breaststroke. That broke her previous American record of a 2:19.24 that she swam at the Paris Olympics for gold. Pedersen’s Championship Record was a 2:19.11 from the 2013 World Championships in Barcelona.
Split Comparison
| Douglass- 2025 Worlds | Douglass- 2024 Olympics | Pederson- 2013 | |
| 50 | 31.51 | 31.83 | 31.8 |
| 100 | 35.03 | 35.26 | 35.47 |
| 150 | 35.61 | 35.81 | 35.62 |
| 200 | 36.35 | 36.34 | 36.22 |
| 2:18.50 | 2:19.24 | 2:19.11 |
Douglass was consistently faster on each of her 50s compared to her time from Paris. The lone exception is she came home 0.01 seconds slower on the final 50. Douglass was also faster than Pederson on the first three 50s.
The swim marks the 4th sub-2:19 swim for the event as Douglass is now the #2 performer ever behind World Record holder Evgeniia Chikunova who notably won silver today.
All-Time Performances, Women’s 200 Breaststroke (LCM)
- Evgeniia Chikunova (RUS), 2:17.55 – 2023
- Kate Douglass (USA), 2:18.50 – 2025
- Tatjana Smith (RSA), 2:18.95 – 2021
- Evgeniia Chikunova (RUS), 2:18.98 – 2024
- Tatjana Smith (RSA), 2:19.01 – 2024
Douglass has been under the 2:20 mark now eight times in her career. The only other Americans to have ever been under 2:20 are Rebecca Soni and Lilly King, who each got under 2:20 once over their careers.
Bobby Hurler has the best summary…Douglass is long on every wall. I think it’s personality. She is a smooth operator. Lilly King’s instinct is to attack.
It’s amazing Douglass swam that time given those walls. Rowdy singled out the first one as terrible. Second and third were pathetic also. Then the final one was same level as the first. Walls were my concern. If I had seen an isolated video of Douglass’ walls alone I would think no way she won, let alone by that margin.
Awesome swim otherwise. Douglass did a magnificent job transitioning from 100 tempo to 200. There’s no question the added 100 emphasis has helped her 200.
It’s just too bad she won’t instinctively throw… Read more »
Kate’s performances in the breaststroke events at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships reminds me of Rebecca Soni at the London 2012 Olympics, pipped in the final of the 100 BR and a personal best time in the final of the 200 BR.
I guess swimswam prediction for this event is correct after all
I realize part of this is due to the Russia ban at international competitions but Chikunova has only been sub 2:20 five times now. That kinda surprised me. So I checked others and again I might be off but it looks like
Smith has only been sub 2:20 on 7 occasions.
Pedersen was 5 as best I can see.
I think Efimova is 4 times.
So I think Douglass is now the most prolific sub 2:20 swimmer. Which is just not something I expected to see since it’s basically only been a year an a half since she broke 2:20 (Jan 2024 at the Knoxville pro series).
I think Chikunova is the victim of developing into a woman in the past 2 years. Just a genetic thing that is hard to control for some. Just me $.02
You don’t think she’d gone through puberty by 18?
Kate Douglass, you are a marvel.
Now, suit up for the mixed 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay tomorrow night. No rest for the weary.
Yeah and the good thing about her missing the 50 fly is that she can focus entirely on the remaining relay swims
Welp, there is a silver lining.
It was too short a turnaround for Kate Douglass to swim in the semifinals of the women’s 50 meter butterfly.
Kate Douglas has great mindset. Fantastic preparations, and excellent execution.
The queen of breastroke (who also swims sprint freestyle and fly, and 200IM as a side quest)
I wish my “side quest” had included NCAA and US Open records in the 50 yard free and 100 yard fly.
Kate’s versatility is unquestionable:
50 FR
100 FR
100 BR
200 BR
50 FL
100 FL
200 IM
deeper than the best versatile Lochte
A side quest Olympic silver medal. Not bad
Let’s go Kate!! So glad she’s firing on all cylinders even with all the sickness going around
Have to think she wants the WR at some point but a huge swim for the CR and second fastest performance.
It’s interesting her only 50 she didn’t get quicker in was the last one, she was with the WR until probably the 175 I would guess