A Special Thanks to Deep Blue Media for providing the images from this meet World Championships Women’s Finals: Kate Douglass, Alex Walsh Strike Gold-Silver in 200 IM; Douglass Sets American Record Team USA Olympic medallists Kate Douglass and Alex Walsh stole the limelight with the first 1-2 finish of the meet – taking gold and silver respectively in the women’s 200m individual medley, with Australia’s fast finishing Kaylee McKeown taking the bronze. And it was a record breaking affair for Douglass who gave Katinka Hosszu‘s 2014 world mark a real nudge. Douglass set a new American mark with her winning time of 2:02.12, just 0.26 outside Hosszu’s 2014 world record of 2:01.86. “This morning’s swim felt really smooth, so I was really excited for the race tonight,” Douglass said. “I wanted to be relaxed and get after it at the end.” It was Douglass who started smartly in the butterfly before Walsh edged in front at the backstroke turn before Douglass dominated through breaststroke, powering away in the freestyle to clock a new All-American record time of 2:02.12. Walsh hung on for silver in 2:03.37 with McKeown setting a new Oceania, Commonwealth and Australian record in 2:03.57. “I felt really good. I put together a really good race,” Walsh said. “I wanted to go a 2:03 – that was my goal – so honestly, I couldn’t be happier. I swim with (Douglass) every single day so I know she knows how to race. I’m pretty proud of us for swimming short course meters which we don’t do very often. It’s great to know it was a well-executed race for the both of us.”
