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Kate Douglass Proves to Be Among World’s Elite in Journey ‘Two Years in the Making’
Kate Douglass entered 2021 with something to prove. After missing a chance for a breakout performance in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Douglass shifted her focus to 2021 — and it has been spectacular.
Douglass won the 50-yard freestyle at the NCAA championships, leading Virginia to its first team title. She then switched her focus to long course and qualified for the U.S. Olympic team in the 200 IM.
“Not being able to have NCAAs last year, I knew I had improved a lot and wasn’t able to show that, and without the long course training (after NCAAs), I really had no idea where I was long-course-wise. Winning at NCAAs and finally getting to train long course really helped me with that confidence going into Trials,” Kate Douglass said. “I don’t know if there was a single moment where it clicked. It was more of a gradual thing. This year, winning the 50 free at NCAAs was definitely a confidence booster for me. It was definitely two years in the making.”
So after a year of not being able to prove herself on the big stage, the Pelham, New York, native emphatically proved herself on the two biggest stages in American swimming.
Kate Douglass. Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
She knew the training was there, but since she hadn’t had the opportunity in 2020, Douglass was still building her confidence.
“Going into Trials, I tried to not put a lot of pressure on myself and not think about making the team as my only goal for the meet. I wanted to go best times and see how high I could place,” she said. “After my first race, when I got third the 100 fly, I started to see I had a chance to make the team and the nerves started to set in for the 200 IM because I wanted it more and realized it was a possibility.”
Then Douglass put together a huge final 50 in her 200 IM to touch second behind teammate Alex Walsh and clinch a spot in Tokyo.
“I just remember the last 50 of that 200 IM, I was totally sure that I was in fifth place, and when I touched the wall, in my head, there was no chance that I made it. I looked and saw No. 2 and I was completely shocked. It was a crazy feeling. Alex and I looked at each other and knew we had done it. I don’t think I have every been so shocked in my entire life,” Douglass said.
Walsh and Douglass started training together after the NCAA championships. Douglass won the NCAA title in the 50 free and was second in the 100 free and 100 butterfly. Meanwhile, Walsh won the NCAA title in the 200 IM and made the finals in the 200 free and 200 breaststroke.
“I only have been training with Kate since April,” Walsh said. “When we started training together, we really started to push each other. That made us better for performing at Trials because we knew we would be next to each other just like in practice. That made us prepared going in. Having her next to me was a dream come true. We knew how we were going to swim that race and going 1-2 was just the perfect outcome.”
Walsh, who edged her teammate 2:09.30 to 2:09.32, felt validation for herself, but also for Douglass and teammate Paige Madden, who qualified in two events.
“Having them both qualify for the Olympics (was amazing). I feel like people had them on the radar, but didn’t know what they were capable of. Having swam with them, I knew what they were capable of,” Walsh said. “It made the results that much sweeter.”
The trio qualifying got Virginia coach Todd DeSorbo a spot on the Olympic coaching roster as well.
“It is so great that he is going. I think I would be a little more nervous if he wasn’t. He has been such a big part of my journey to get to this point. He has helped me through a lot of things. It definitely puts me at ease that he will be there,” Douglass said.
Virginia has put together a stunning year with an NCAA title and seeing a handful of Olympic qualifiers.
“Winning an NCAA championship is a team thing. Our whole team put in all of that work to get there and we were all part of making that happen. Making the Olympic team is different, but they are both super exciting moments,” Douglass said. “It was a crazy meet and I think it went as well as it could for Virginia. I didn’t think I would make it and I had already kind of planned out my summer and taking a break. But it is super exciting to think about the weeks to come. I am going to make sure I take it all in.”
Didn’t they train together all year at UVA? How did they just start in April?
I believe in the same training group.
I think Kate was in a more sprint focused training group and Alex was mid-distance during the NCAA season.