Kate Douglass Breaks Own American Record With 2:19.24 To Win Olympic Gold

2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

WOMEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – FINALS

Podium

  1. Kate Douglass (USA) – 2:19.24
  2. Tatjana Smith (RSA) – 2:19.60
  3. Tes Schouten (NED) – 2:21.05
  4. Satomi Suzuki (JPN) – 2:22.54
  5. Kotryna Teterevova (LTU) – 2:23.75
  6. Ye Shiwen (CHN) – 2:24.31
  7. Kaylene Corbett (RSA) – 2:24.46
  8. Lilly King (USA) – 2:25.91

Kate Douglass broke her own American Record swimming a 2:19.24 en route to Olympic gold. That broke her previous American Record of a 2:19.30 that she swam in January at the 2024 Pro Series stop in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Split Comparison

July- Paris
January – Pro Series
50 31.83 32.01
100 35.26 35.04
150 35.81 35.92
200 36.34 36.33
2:19.24 2:19.30

Douglass was out 0.18 seconds after on her first 50 today but her 2nd 50 was 0.22 seconds slower, leaving her just behind her old record. Her 3rd 50 was the difference maker as she was 0.11 seconds faster today before coming home.

The event marks the first individual Olympic gold for Douglass. She notably dropped the 100 freestyle in favor of the 200 breaststroke after winning the 100 free at US Trials. The 100 freestyle final was last night, the same session as the 200 breaststroke semifinal. Douglass also is entered in the 200 IM later this week, where she stands as a medal contender and potential gold medalist in the event.

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Ranger Coach
3 months ago

I was watching this on my phone yesterday while on the stationary bike. People kept looking at me because I kept muttering ‘go, go, go,’ under my breath (maybe I was muttering louder than I thought) and then celebrated when she won.

Congrats Kate Douglass.

David S
3 months ago

I really wanted Smith née Schoenmaker to win

Luis
3 months ago

Aahhh Katie, trim that leg stroke a bit tighter and you’d be 2:18 clean.
You have Rebeca Soni, Manuel, Weitzel, King qualities all bundled up in this prodigy. But I fear USA Swimming cannot make it work (and others) with their current management.
She has given hints of retiring recently, which would be the heaviest blow for US female swimming.

Orange
3 months ago

.06 drop from an in-season swim? Not great.

Steve Nolan
Reply to  Orange
3 months ago

“terrible record setting and gold medal performance out of that one”

Viking Steve
Reply to  Orange
3 months ago

Comparing your take to the rest of the world’s take on her amazing performance is like comparing apples to well… you orange!

#MFan
Reply to  Viking Steve
3 months ago

apples to lemon

Ranger Coach
Reply to  #MFan
3 months ago

Apples to turnips.

SwimKen
Reply to  Orange
3 months ago

Let’s see your gold medal, speedy.

Ranger Coach
Reply to  Orange
3 months ago

I know, right? A new American record and an Olympic gold medal. Totally pedestrian.

Awsi Dooger
3 months ago

That was the highlight of the meet on the women’s side, along with Sjostrom.

Nerve wracking throughout. Rowdy’s body language toward finish was similar to my own. Douglass gave away tenths on the long glide to every prior wall. She had exactly the 2 foot edge I suggested she needed entering the red. But even then it didn’t feel safe. Fortunately her penultimate stroke finished just far away from the wall that she knew she needed a short blast.

Somebody should ask Douglass what Tatiana said to her after the finish. They seemed very cordial. Tatiana is so classy. It looked like Tatiana said something that Douglass really appreciated.

Keith OBrien
Reply to  Awsi Dooger
3 months ago

Now there is a class act in Tatiana. Beautiful elegant and graceful in being second best to still give her rival encouragement for the future while she herself walks away from swimming. Real deal.

Ranger Coach
Reply to  Awsi Dooger
3 months ago

I thought Rowdy was going to cry when she touched first. I then saw the Rowdy Cam NBC set up and thought he was going to give Beisel a concussion.

Weinstein-Madden-Ledecky-Gemmell
3 months ago

Congratulations Kate!

Gold Medal
American Record

Denny Boyd
3 months ago

Great swim!

Steve Nolan
3 months ago

Kate Douglass rules

About Anya Pelshaw

Anya Pelshaw

Anya has been with SwimSwam since June 2021 as both a writer and social media coordinator. She was in attendance at the 2022, 2023, and 2024 Women's NCAA Championships writing and doing social media for SwimSwam. She also attended 2023 US Summer Nationals as well as the 2024 European Championships …

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