Kate Douglass Reminisces on First Olympic Gold Medal, Looks Forward to SCM Racing in Fall

Heading into 2024, Kate Douglass had pretty much everything one could have on a swimming resume: NCAA champion, American record holder, and world champion. In Paris last month, she added Olympic champion to that list. When the competition was over, Douglass walked away from the 2024 Olympic Games with 4 medals, 2 from Team USA relays (gold, silver) and two individually from the 200 breast (gold) and 200 IM (silver).

Listen to Douglass’ experience in Paris and her plans for swimming moving into the fall with short course meters on the horizon.

In the SwimSwam Podcast dive deeper into the sport you love with insider conversations about swimming. Hosted by Coleman Hodges and Gold Medal Mel Stewart, SwimSwam welcomes both the biggest names in swimming that you already know, and rising stars that you need to get to know, as we break down the past, present, and future of aquatic sports.

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

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AST
1 month ago

Coleman, Very good subject. Thank you. Where are you that you are getting so tan??
Use sun screen.

moonlight
1 month ago

I wonder how KD would do under Bowman. It seems like her calling is really as a middle distance swimmer and she has versatility similar to Marchand.. She had a great experience at UVA, but nobody can live the college life forever.

Vaswammer
Reply to  moonlight
1 month ago

Douglass has an individual Olympic gold medal. Has any woman who’s won an individual gold under Bowman won an individual gold prior to training for him? Better question, has any woman training under Bowman won an individual Olympic gold medal?

moonlight
Reply to  Vaswammer
1 month ago

Allison schmitt

Vaswammer
Reply to  moonlight
1 month ago

She had been training at Georgia for the previous four years (and was still there another year after) when she won her only individual gold. So, no, not giving that one to you.

There are none. If she continues swimming and UVa doesn’t build a pro group, she’d be better off with someone else.

Terrill
1 month ago

Please, please Katie Grimes interview! So much to discuss post Paris!

WSpahn
1 month ago

She says she is a hero to young swimmers.So the next time she finishes a 200im she should have the class to congratulate the winner.Pretty bad optic to see the silver and bronze ignoring the 17 year old gold.

I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
Reply to  WSpahn
1 month ago

We saw maybe 30 seconds of their post-race? We don’t know if they went up to Summer afterwards or anything, but I wouldn’t be shocked if they didn’t because that was after they found out about the DQ. Didn’t seem like Summer was looking over at them to congratulate them either. Is it their duty to congratulate Summer?

WSpahn
Reply to  I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
1 month ago

Is it their duty to congratulate Summer?………..Yes.

jim
Reply to  I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
1 month ago

Yeah, this was unusual circumstances…they weren’t even out of the pool yet, actually by the time they finished, there was a question mark up on the board apparently…so, they all were slightly confused…as they were slowly exiting the pool, then I don’t even think Alex and Kate were out of the pool when the DQ came across…

No offense, but I doubt both of their immediate thoughts were, “Well let me go over and congratulate everyone before I break down in tears given i spent the last 4 years of my life, if not more, trying to get to this exact moment only to be DQ’d!”

Like, give both of them a break…it happened to one of them, and the… Read more »

Vaswammer
Reply to  WSpahn
1 month ago

You don’t think a congratulations was uttered from Douglass to Mcintosh? Seems like they went out of their way to do a lot of photos with just the two of them….

https://www.gettyimages.dk/photos/mcintosh-douglass

Link
Reply to  WSpahn
1 month ago

mcintosh fan why are you so sensitive

Viking Steve
1 month ago

Amazing how the IM can represent both the most (100 IM) and least (400 IM) fun races in swimming.

Sounds like Kate is going to have some fun converting her enormous LCM training base into kicking arse in SCM…. all while making bank and traveling to beautiful cities with the other half of her dynamic duo (Regan).

Sounds like a good gig for those who can get it 🙂

Congrats and well-earned!

Southerly Buster
1 month ago

Again Kate hinting that she might not be swimming for too much longer.

Kate threw down some of the fastest 50 Free SCM relay splits ever at 2022 Short Course Worlds (22.72, 22.77). I wonder if she will swim the 50 Free individual event at SCW this year.

oxyswim
Reply to  Southerly Buster
1 month ago

If selection procedures are the same as 2022 short course worlds, she should be the 1st priority level for 50 FR selection.

I’m hoping the selection process isn’t exactly the same because it shouldn’t be 100% based off long course performance, but I don’t expect USAS and Mintenko to do anything differently (although Kate and Gretchen getting the 50 spots would be the right outcome despite holes in the larger process).

VA Steve
1 month ago

100IM, love it. Let’s go!

Nonrevhoofan
Reply to  VA Steve
1 month ago

First time I met Kate in Fall 2019, she swam a 53.39 100y IM in an intrasquad meet dropping nearly 5 seconds off her previous best and setting a UVA record by over 3 seconds. She was totally unfazed – had no idea how good that swim was. It has been an absolute pleasure watching her grow, improve and mature over these past 5 years. She is an Olympic gold medalist in and out of the water.

Awsi Dooger
1 month ago

I wasn’t counting. But I sensed Kate threw in an extra stroke or two during the final 50 of 200 breaststroke. Absolutely imperative. My fear all year year was two or three long glides to the final wall, allowing Tatjana to snipe it via greater urgency.

Kate was already forewarned when Tatjana stole the 100 from seemingly impossible late deficit

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

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