The 2024 Swimming World Cup has been a huge success for the United States women’s squad. In the previous two legs, Regan Smith and Kate Douglass clinched gold medals and set new world records in the 25-meter pool. Interestingly, the streak to crush world records continues at the last stop of the event in Singapore.
In the 200-meter breaststroke, Kate Douglass shattered her own world record by touching the wall in 2:12.72, taking an impressive amount of time of 1.44 seconds from the previous record. She was followed by Belarusian Alina Zmushka (2:18:79) and Australia’s Tara Kinder (2:19.08), who placed second and third, respectively.
Douglass, who trains at the University of Virginia, had first claimed the world record last Thursday in Incheon, South Korea, placing first in 2:14:16. Shattering a 15-year-long world record of 2:14.57 set by six-time Olympic medalist Rebecca Soni from the supersuit era in 2009. Following this, today she was inside her own world record time at all 50’s and surging at the 150-meter mark by closing in 34.39, six tenths faster than her last 50 in Incheon, 34.96.
Douglass Splits: 30.47, 1:04.07 (33.60), 1:38.33 (34.26), 2:12.72 (34.39)
Triple Crown And $30,000
“I just kind of came in with a mission tonight,” Douglass said in a post-race interview. As per the Olympic 200m breaststroke gold medalist, after her “unexpected” world record win last weekend, she felt to have more potential in her breaststroke event. With this win, she claimed the triple crown for claiming gold at all three stops: the 200-meter race in Shanghai (2:15.96), her maiden individual world record win in Incheon (2:14.16), and lastly, her performance in Singapore. Douglass also claimed a cash prize of US$30,000 alongside her crown. Swimmers can claim $10,000 for winning an event at all stops and another $10,000 for breaking a world record.
What makes this feat more impressive for Douglass is that her clocking time makes her the only swimmer in under 2:12 and only two more swimmers alongside her to be under 2:15. Rebecca Soni’s super-suited time of 2:14.57 and LCM 200-meter breaststroke world record holder Evgeniia Chikunova’s time of 2:14.70.
Douglass certainly holds expertise in the breaststroke event and has achieved substantial wins in the 50-meter pools as well. The 22-year-old with 15 NCAA titles is the American record holder in the 200-meter breaststroke and 50-meter freestyle in long course. Her 200-meter American record of 2:19.24 makes her the fourth-fastest in the long course.