Editorial content for the 2023 World Aquatics Championships is sponsored by FINIS, a longtime partner of Swimming World and leading innovator of suits, goggles and equipment. World Championships, Day 1 Prelims: Kate Douglass Leads Deep 200 IM Field Kate Douglass led the way in the women’s 200 individual medley prelims to start the swim competition at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka. Douglass clocked in at 2:09.17, the fastest of the four morning heats at the Marine Messe Hall. She led seven swimmers under 2:10 and what promises to be a studded field in the finals. Behind Douglass was Kaylee McKeown, who went 2:09.50. Mary-Sophie Harvey of Canada tied Alex Walsh, the American and reigning gold medalist, for third in 2:09.65. Yu Yiting, Jenna Forrester, Ye Shiwen and Sara Francheschi rounded out the top eight. The reigning Olympic gold medalist, Yui Ohashi, is into the night semifinals, finishing ninth in 2:10.80. She’ll be joined by countrywoman Mio Narita, in 15th. The second heat of four provided a scintillating start to the morning. McKeown, the silver medalist in Budapest, led the way for a quintet you might not mind seeing in the final lining the middle lanes. The Aussie was first in 2:09.50, .15 seconds up on Harvey. Ye pushed hard to close the gap and get under 2:10 in 2:09.81, with Ohashi and Anastasia Gorbenko in the 2:10.8s to book passage to semis, in ninth and 10th, respectively. Walsh would want a piece of that elite grouping, and she showed it by routing the second heat in 2:09.65, even on time with Harvey, though Walsh may have shut it down a tad in the final few meters of freestyle. Katie Shanahan of Great Britain was second best in the third heat in 2:11.26, leading a pack of four 2:11s. All made the final, lead by Shanahan in 12th, Marrit Steenbergen in 13th and Kim Seoyeong in 14th. Douglass won the third circle-seeded heat, with only Yu and Forrester for close company. Ellen Walshe slipped into the 16th and final spot, the Irishwoman facing a double with the 100 butterfly today. Fantine Lesaffre and Charlotte Bonnet of France tied for 17th in 2:13.28.
