{"id":651324,"date":"2026-08-15T10:49:05","date_gmt":"2026-08-15T17:49:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=651324"},"modified":"2026-08-15T11:34:27","modified_gmt":"2026-08-15T18:34:27","slug":"flash-kate-douglass-takes-down-50-free-world-record-sets-up-showdown-with-walsh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/flash-kate-douglass-takes-down-50-free-world-record-sets-up-showdown-with-walsh\/","title":{"rendered":"FLASH! Kate Douglass Takes Down 50 Free World Record, Sets Up Showdown With Gretchen Walsh"},"content":{"rendered":"

FLASH! Kate Douglass Takes Down 50 Free World Record, Sets Up Showdown With Walsh<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kate Douglass<\/strong> admitted she was aiming for a world record in the 100 freestyle leading off the 400 free relay at the Pan Pacific Championships.<\/p>\n

About 12 hours later, Douglass threw down a 23.49 to shatter the 50 freestyle world record during the prelims of the 50 free.<\/p>\n

“I definitely wasn’t expecting that. I knew I could do a 23 this morning, but was not expecting to go the world record this morning,” Douglass said. “I still think there are things I could clean up. I think barely missing a world record last night kind of fueled me a little bit and I know I wanted to go in and break the world record today, and I did it this morning. I am more rested than when I broke the world record the first time, and I have been amped up. My freestyle has been really good, and I am just using that to feel on top of the water and feel like I can go world records.”<\/p>\n

It broke the mark of teammate Gretchen Walsh<\/strong>, who held the previous mark at 23.55.<\/p>\n

With one heat to go, Walsh had a chance to take it back, but went a 23.78 to come close to her teammates’ swim .<\/p>\n

“I definitely waited until Gretchen’s race was done (before I warmed down),” Douglass said. “She put up a good fight and I think tonight is going to be a great race.”<\/p>\n

But it was Douglass who broke the mark and it sets up a sensational battle in the final tonight.<\/p>\n

They have been the faces of American sprinting for the past few years and it has been an incredible ride watching them go back and forth with records and titles.<\/p>\n

Both will be on the line tonight in Irvine.<\/p>\n

It could be a huge night for Douglass with a double (200 breast) and a possible relay spot.<\/p>\n

“I would love to give it a shot,” she said. “I feel like it would be a good challenge.”<\/p>\n