Kate Douglass Crushes American Record in 100 IM in Shanghai
In her first international competition since the Paris Olympics, Kate Douglass picked up right where she left off.
The U.S. star broke the American record (short-course meters) in the 100 IM at the World Aquatics World Cup stop in Shanghai on Friday to win the event.
Douglass is the first American woman to break the 57 second barrier in the event, touching the wall in 56.99.
“I love the 100IM,” Kate Douglass said. “I find the 200IM very painful, and this was a lot more fun to do. I was definitely worried about the timing of my double, but it all worked out. I think I managed my races well. I love training short course at the University of Virginia. We have been doing a lot more of that. I don’t miss long course right now, that’s for sure. I think it’s a lot of fun to race a different pool length, because we all have our strengths and weaknesses. This is my first World Cup series and it’s fun. It’s definitely fun, low pressure, allowing everyone to have a good time and not worry about how we are swimming.”
The only other swimmer in the world to ever go faster was Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu, who went a 56.51 in a 2017 World Cup event.
Kate Douglass had tied the American record during prelims, a 57.72 that was also held by Beata Nelson. Nelson finished fifth in the event on Friday with a time of 58.10.
Douglass splits were 26.96 and 30.03, the back half nearly a second faster than she went in prelims.
Yu Yuting of China broke her national record and the Asian record in 57.51.
If that wasn’t enough, Douglass also won the 200 breaststroke in 2:15.96.
“I am having a lot of fun so far,” said Kate Douglass. “This meet has pretty chill vibes and is pretty low-pressure. I think a lot of people are enjoying that and feeding off of it. I had fun exploring the city the other night, and I am looking forward to doing that.”