11 Years Later, Kate Douglass Breaks Historic Record To Clinch 200m Breakstroke At Knoxville Pro Series

Trying multiple swimming events in one competition wasn’t a heck of a journey for Kate Douglass. Rather, supporting her decisions, the 22-year-old swimmer claimed, “I said I wanted to make the Olympic team in multiple events, and kind of be as dominant as I can this summer.” Her Olympic dream has been on the cards since 2015 when she was just 13 years of age.

Down the road, Kate Douglass ignored the whiplash of moderate scoliosis and varied opponents. Now, when all was falling in place for her, the stint of domination was about to begin. The TYR Pro Series 2024 came midway to test Kate Douglass’ ascendancy in the initial Olympic year. The result was stunning. 

Kate Douglass decimates records to dominate the pool

On day 4 of the TYR Pro Series 2024, Kate Douglass was up again to show her vivid prowess in trying different swimming disciplines with the same level of deception. This time it was the 200 LC m backstroke that already earned her a gold medal in the 2022 World Swimming Championship with a record.

But unlike that time, former Olympic champion Lilly King was present in the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center to challenge Douglass’ high-flying expectations. But it was a thorough day for the NCAA swimming history-maker.

Douglass took an emphatic 2:19.30 to register her win. However, going deep, Swimming Twitter CEO Kyle Sockwell provided an insight. His X-post conceded, “Kate Douglass just threw down a MASSIVE 2:19.30 200 Breaststroke to become the 4th FASTEST PERFORMER IN HISTORY”

Eventually, it was Rebecca Soni’s record of 2:19.59 made in the 2012 Summer Olympics in 200m backstroke that Douglass broke on Saturday evening. The Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center witnessed a new American record take place since sub 2:20 category in the event seemed tough to achieve. However, in the chasing, Lilly King only put a 2:24.34 to be the runner-up. 

The process underway 

Narrating Kate Douglass’ preparation for the Olympics, her UVA coach, Todd DeSorbo added, “She takes days off, but mainly because I force her to. She gets really anxious and stressed if she feels like she’s not doing enough.” The feeling was there when the World Championship medalist tried her Tokyo Olympics trial events. And after that, a thorough selection of the events worked for the swimmer. But meanwhile, the 200m breaststroke was never getting away from her cusp. 

Read more: Forbes 30 Under 30 Adds Stars From Swimming World as Kate Douglass Makes New Career High Before Paris Olympics

In the 2022 Worlds, Kate Douglass achieved the bronze insignia in the event and changed it to silver in the 2023 Worlds. Now, the TYR Pro Series 2024 gave the 2023 Golden Goggle Award winner a taste of gold, admitting dominance. 

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