The swimming world witnessed a remarkable spectacle in the heart of the Middle East as the 2024 World Aquatics Championships unfolded in Doha, Qatar. Approximately 2,600 athletes from 190 countries converged and went head-to-head to clinch world titles in various disciplines of swimming and aquatic sports. Among an array of competitors, two powerful dynamos from Team USA shone on the global stage.
They were none other than Kate Douglass and Claire Curzan. Virginia sophomore Claire Curzan has been named the Best Female Swimmer at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar. Throughout the eight-day meet, Curzan displayed exceptional prowess, clinching a total of six medals: four gold, one silver, and one bronze.
Meanwhile, Kate Douglass also left a mark at the 2024 Doha World Championships, securing five medals: gold in the 200-meter individual medley, 400-meter mixed medley, silver medals in the 50-meter freestyle, 200-meter breaststroke, 4×100-meter mixed medley relay, and bronze in the mixed 4×100-meter free relay. Reflecting on their remarkable achievements and standards set in the Olympic year 2024, let’s delve into the records these extraordinary women have shattered throughout their illustrious careers.
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The unprecedented record sweeps of Claire Curzan
Claire Curzan’s journey has been nothing short of extraordinary since her debut in 2019. She was even an Olympic silver medalist in the 4×100 meter medley relay at the 2020-21 Tokyo Olympics. On February 6, 2022, Claire Curzan took the Down National High School 100 Back Record in 50.47 at the North Carolina 4A East Regional Championships. Continuing her streak, on February 12, 2022, Claire Curzan broke the American record in the 100 butterfly with a time of 49.26 seconds at the North Carolina High School State Meet. Here, she set a new national high school record in the 100 backstroke with a time of 49.73 seconds.
Claire Curzan’s exceptional talent was further highlighted when she set the 50-meter fly World Junior and American record with a time of 24.55 seconds at the FINA Abu Dhabi 2021. Moreover, on February 11, 2022, Cardinal Gibbons senior Claire Curzan set a new U.S. record in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 49.24 seconds and a new national high school record in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 49.61 seconds at the NCHSAA 4A state championship swimming meet.
To add to this list of her stellar prowess, on July 13, 2023, Curzan participated in the Indianapolis 100 Free despite being hospitalized for a week before the trials. She finished third with a time of 58.59 seconds, breaking her own previous record. Furthermore, on May 19, 2023, Curzan won the 50-meter butterfly with a time of 25.88 seconds and the 200-meter backstroke with a time of 2:07.78 at a Pro Swim Series stop in Mission Viejo, California.
Most recently, on February 17, 2024, Claire Curzan won the women’s 200-meter backstroke event at the Doha 2024 World Championships with a time of 2:05.77, securing her third backstroke gold medal of the competition. This victory made Curzan only the second woman ever to complete the backstroke treble at the world championships, following in the footsteps of Australian swimmer Kaylee McKeown’s performance at the previous World Championships in Fukuoka.
Notably, Claire Curzan she demonstrated her dominance at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha by clinching gold in all three of the backstroke events. This remarkable feat solidified her position as just the third swimmer in World Championships history to sweep the 50, 100, and 200 distances of a single stroke, and she became only the second female to achieve this extraordinary accomplishment.
Speaking of the 2024 Paris Olympics, the veteran Curzan has shared, “So being in the position of a veteran I think has helped me see that I have grown so much. I think I’ve gotten so much more composed in the ready room and just ready for races. So I’m excited to see how this newfound, almost adultness, is going to translate into the rest of my career.” Now, let’s turn our attention to Claire Curzan’s teammate on Team USA, Kate Douglass, whose stellar record not only shines at a national and international level but also on a collegiate level.
The trailblazing records of Kate Douglass, from college to international success
Since her debut in 2016, Kate Douglass has become a renowned name in the swimming world. In the NCAA realm, Douglass has swept the podium with impressive achievements in the NCAA Women’s Championships. At the 2022 NCAA Championships in Atlanta, Kate Douglass secured seven gold medals, triumphing in three individual events and contributing to four relay victories. During the meet, she set new records in various events, including the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard butterfly, and 200-yard breaststroke.
This earned her the distinction of being the first Division I collegiate swimmer to win three NCAA titles across three different strokes. Douglass’ outstanding performance garnered praise from commentators, with her swims described as “the greatest single-meet performance in NCAA history.” She followed this success in the 2023 NCAA season as well. In 2023, at the NCAA Championships in Knoxville, Tennessee, Douglass continued her dominance, clinching seven gold medals once again, including victories in three individual events and four relays.
Notably, she shattered American and U.S. Open records in events like the 100-yard butterfly, 200-yard breaststroke, and 200-yard individual medley, solidifying her reputation as one of the greatest collegiate swimmers of all time. Her contributions were instrumental in securing Virginia’s third consecutive NCAA team title, with Douglass being named the Swimmer of the Meet by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA).
Recognizing her remarkable achievements, Douglass was honored with prestigious awards such as the CSCAA NCAA Female Swimmer of the Year and the Honda Sports Award for Swimming and Diving for two consecutive years, cementing her legacy in collegiate swimming history. Kate Douglass holds multiple records for the Virginia Cavaliers, including the 50-yard free with a time of 20.84 seconds, setting American, US Open, and NCAA records.
She also set a record in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:02.19 seconds, achieving American, US Open, and NCAA records. In the 100 fly, Douglass achieved an American record with a time of 49.04 seconds. Additionally, she recorded a time of 46.30 seconds in the 100 Free, placing her second all-time at UVA. Douglass also holds a record in the 100 breast with a time of 58.64 seconds, ranking fourth all-time at UVA.
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In the long course (50m), Douglass broke a record in the 50m freestyle, securing a silver medal with a time of 23.91 seconds, surpassing Simone Manuel’s previous record. In the short course (25m), Douglass set a national and American record in the 200m individual medley with a time of 2:02.12 seconds, winning gold at the 2022 World Championships in Melbourne, Australia. Similarly, she set a national and American record in the 200-meter breaststroke, achieving a time of 2:15.77 seconds and securing gold at the 2022 World Championships in Melbourne, Australia.
Douglass also holds American records in the 100 fly (49.04 seconds), 200 breast (2:02.19 seconds), and 200 individual medley (2:02.12 seconds). In short course (25m), Douglass contributed to setting world records in the 4x50m mixed medley relay (1:35.15) and the 4x100m medley relay (3:44.35) at the 2022 World Championships in Melbourne, Australia. At the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar, Douglass broke the 50-meter freestyle (long course) record with a time of 23.91, set by Simone Manuel at 23.97.
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She became the 2nd American woman under the 24-second mark in history. Notably, it was Douglass’s first time competing in the 50-free at a major international meet. Kate Douglass shared her aims for the Paris Olympics, stating, “I don’t really want to change things up now heading into an Olympic year, and I’ll stick to what I know, and I’m excited about that.” As we reflect on the blazing resumes and capabilities Kate Douglass and Claire Curzan hold, fans are hopeful that they will continue their dominance at the 2024 Paris Olympics and proudly wave the American flag on the podium.
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