Courtesy: Charles Hartley
Americans love Caitlin Clark.
She’s Miss America.
She’s the most popular athlete in the country – maybe the world. You can’t go a day without hearing her name. She’s fascinating, super-talented, and a person who’s easy to root for.
Her fame won’t dissipate anytime soon, but as you know she won’t be playing for the U.S. Olympics basketball team, which has been a controversial decision raging from the Atlantic to Pacific Oceans and around the world.
That’s unfortunate we won’t be able to watch her three-point bomber play, but it’s fortunate that as this summer moves along you’re to be hearing more about another highly likable and relatable young American woman who may never be as famous as Caitlin Clark but will become quite famous.
Her name is Kate Douglass, who last week finished first in three events – the 100-meter freestyle, 200-meter breaststroke, and 200-meter individual medley. Her performances put her front and center as a major face and compelling story of all American athletes competing at the upcoming Paris Olympics.
There are many other impressive members of this Olympic swim team and other sports. Kate will be one of the most high-profile American athletes at these games. You’re going to be learning more about her soon if you haven’t already.
A super-achiever throughout her swimming life particularly as the biggest star on the national champion University of Virginia swim team, Douglass is that girl, like Caitlin Clark, that America is going to be hearing about, talking about, getting interested in, and rooting for over the next several weeks as she goes for Gold in Paris.
Kate Douglass – get ready for her. It’s going to be awesome watching her race, pursuing golds, possibly breaking world records.
Americans revere and treasure great athletes especially those who work their whole lives to be superb at their crafts as Kate and Caitlin have. Especially when they’re nice people. Especially when they reach heights so few of us can. Especially when they’re classy. Especially because they make us believe we can improve at what we do.
Say hello, America, to Kate Douglass.
Another Miss America.
You’re going to love her.
Just like you love Caitlin Clark.
About Charles Hartley
Charles Hartley is a freelance writer based in Davidson, NC. He has a masters degree in journalism and a masters degree in business administration.
This whole Caitlin Clark thing still feels a lot like Linsanity to me. Curious how it will age.
The hype is real – don’t test kate Douglass on that last 50 of the 200 IM, she could run down anyone, even Summer McIntosh
McIntosh’s final 50 in her PB is more than half a second faster
True if you’re comparing splits from their PBs. Although Douglass has been 29sec on
the free split a couple of times, including last year’s Worlds. The biggest challenge for Summer is that she has more on her plate than McKeown or Douglass & this race is at the end of the meet.
Not massively though. In advance of the 200IM final:
McIntosh: 4×400, 6×200, (maybe 1×100)
Douglass: 4×100, 5×200
McKeown: 3×100, 5×200
All will have quite busy schedules, and I’m
Assuming McIntosh doesn’t swim the 200 free individually but does do the relay. McIntosh has a day off after her first 400s and then another after her next. Douglass will be swimming multiples 5 days in a row
In addition,
McIntosh will also have 4×100 and 4×200 final.
Douglas will have 4×100 free 4×100 mixed medley final
Mckeown will have 4×100 mixed medley final
Alex Walsh will be fresh as a faisy.
Mixed medley is after
Remember the Bode Miller hype, magazine covers, before Turin?
Bit early I think good chance she wins no individual event.
I think we’re waaaay overhyping this girl. She’s amazing and I’m a big fan, but let’s just let her do her thing without putting labels, at least until after the Olympics.
KD is far more well known than Caitlin Clark
Kevin Durant of course
Sorry kids, Summer McIntosh is about to become Miss North America, rendering Miss America invalid.
Not invalid.
It’s not winner-takes-all in swimming, just a medal. SM won’t benefit from the American endorsement (US) market in the same way a home swimmer would.
SM has the 4IM on lock, but there are some serious threats to her party in the 2IM and 2Fly.
Nevertheless, it will be fun to watch her swim. She is a terrific athlete and great for this sport.
I’ll be shocked if SM doesn’t win 200 fly.
I’d agree with you that she is seemingly the favorite.
RS speed 55.6 is something to watch out for if it’s close in the last 50.
Strangely written article by SwimSwam. But Kate Douglass is a fantastic swimmer and is ready to make waves in Paris!