Kate Douglass Breaks US Open Record With 2:07.09 200 IM; #2 American Ever

2023 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Day 5 Finals Heat Sheets

Kate Douglass broke the US Open Record previously held by Alex Walsh as Douglass swam a 2:07.09 in the 200 IM to win the event on the final night of US World Trials. Douglass now becomes the second fastest American all-time in the event and the sixth fastest performer in the world ever.

All-Time Top American Women’s 200 IM

  1. Ariana Kukors 2:06.15, 2009
  2. Kate Douglass 2:07.09, 2023
  3. Alex Walsh 2:07.13, 2022
  4. Kathleen Baker 2:08.32, 2018
  5. Regan Smith 2:08.48, 2023

This morning in prelims, Douglass became the third fastest American swim ever as she swam a 2:08.29. She also was faster than her bronze medal winning time from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Douglass’ Split Comparison:

Indy-Finals Indy- Prelims Olympics
Fly 26.96 27.15 27.43
Back 33.48 33.09 33.93
Breast 36.25 37.24 36.87
Free 30.40 30.81 30.81
2:07.09 2:08.29 2:09.04

The biggest difference tonight was her back half. She had a huge breaststroke split and continued that momentum into the final 50 free and touched the wall for the win.

Douglass will swim the event at Worlds. She has about 50 minutes tonight until she swims the 50 free where she swam the third fastest time of this morning’s session.

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Paul
1 year ago

She must improve by half a second in back and free.

Awsi Dooger
1 year ago

It’s too bad Douglass couldn’t be as overjoyed as rightful because she felt bad for upending Walsh in her best event.

It was always going to be awkward once Douglass started prioritizing this event again. Walsh is more polished but Kate greater athletic explosiveness.

Yikes
Reply to  Awsi Dooger
1 year ago

What are you even talking about? You have created this crazy story of tension between them in your head and you talk about it constantly. Pretty sure Alex and Kate, who have been competing with teammates who are also friends their whole lives, can handle this.

Chris
1 year ago

everyone was all “she’s done with the 2 IM.”. Yous ate your words. 1 second off the WR.

Paul Thomas
1 year ago

It’s crazy that Kate Douglass is essentially two completely different world-class swimmers in one person (a sprint freestyler and a short-axis IMer). She’s the Shohei Ohtani of swimming. Completely unique.

Yikes
Reply to  Paul Thomas
1 year ago

Yeah it’s crazy that her main rivals are both Walsh sisters, who themselves are so different.

Rswim
1 year ago

I guess all those bathtub swimmer comments will cease… GO KATE!!

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Rswim
1 year ago

Kate Douglass was the bronze medalist in the W 200 IM at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics and the bronze medalist in the W 200 BR at the 2022 World Aquatics Chsmpionships.

Slower Than You
1 year ago

I forget if McKeown is swimming the 200 IM at worlds or not, but if she is, it’s insane to think that someone could swim like a 2:07 mid and not even medal.

snailSpace
Reply to  Slower Than You
1 year ago

KD, Walsh and McKeown could all potentially be capable of a 2:06, and McIntosh has already done it. I think it’s possible that somebody with a 2:06 doesn’t even medal.

Viking Steve
1 year ago

Walsh sisters are awesome, but K8 is something special.

She’ll be the face of Olympic Swimming in 2024… Even though she does not appear to be in it for the money, she needs to hold out for KL and CD type endorsement contracts.

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Viking Steve
1 year ago

Seriously?

USA Swimming has many female faces:

King, Lilly
Ledecky, Katie
Smith, Regan

flicker
1 year ago

great swim by Kate, a 2:07 low with a 33 backstroke leg is crazy

the women’s 200im is gonna be so good at worlds I can’t believe we’ve already had 4 women under 2:08 this year, I hope Summer swims it because it’ll be a great race but with the 400 free and 4×100 idk if she will, anyways I did a little compilation of Kate, Summer, Alex and Kaylee’s long course times in various events so far this year if anyone else was as curious as I was about it:

Kate Douglass in 2023 LCM so far:
50 free – 24.40
100 free – 52.57
100 fly – 56.43
100 breast – 1:07.07
200… Read more »

Dai
Reply to  flicker
1 year ago

200 IM Kate is the favorite. 400IM Summer is the favorite

David
Reply to  Dai
1 year ago

Summer is the favorite for both

Chris
Reply to  David
1 year ago

Kate will bring her a race I believe, unless she doesn’t execute.

RCP
Reply to  David
1 year ago

You obviously did see the Atlanta meet.

carlo
Reply to  Dai
1 year ago

McIntosh will likely drop either the 400 free or the 200IM for worlds but might be swim both at the paris Olympics if the two events don’t conflict.

If she drops the 400 free, then she is the favorate for both the 200IM and the 400IM.

If she drops the 200IM for the 400 free, then it,s wide open. Kaylee McKeown is at a 2:07 low, walsh is also capable of a 2:07 low as she has swum a 2:07 low already and douglas is at a 2:07 low. There really isn’t much that separates those three.

However, I think mcintosh can swim a 2:05 with the 400 free out of the way.

Last edited 1 year ago by carlo
Riser
Reply to  carlo
1 year ago

There is no way that SM would drop the 400 Free at the Worlds as it is along with the 400IM her two best events. I think she will swim both the 200 IM and the 400 Free at the worlds. Heavy workload for sure as she potentially could have 5 races the first day if you factor in that she will probably have to swim the 4×1 relay as well. Being that it is the first day of competition she will be somewhat rested which could be a factor in her decision.

I hope all four contenders do race the 200 IM since there is only .30 difference between all of them which sets up the possibility of… Read more »

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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