Regan Smith and Kate Douglass are proving there’s no slowing down for them, whether it’s before or after the Olympics. During the second night of the Swimming World Cup in Shanghai, 22-year-old Smith wowed everyone by winning the 100-meter backstroke with a time of 54.89 seconds, which set a new American record and tied with Gretchen Walsh’s time from a recent dual meet in Virginia.

On the flip side, Douglass excelled in the 200m individual medley final with a time of 2:04.09, securing her lead in the World Cup standings with 59.1 points. Although she didn’t reach her personal best of 2:02.12 from the 2022 Championships, she’s still aiming for Katinka Hosszu’s world record of 2:01.86, with two opportunities to chase it next week in Incheon and the following weekend in Singapore.

Although Douglass secured a victory over China’s Yu Yiting (2:05.39), she was candid about her performance, stating, “That was definitely not my best race. I was not feeling good; I was slow, like I was swimming through mud. I was considering scratching it today just because I didn’t want to swim it. I gave it my all, and I am proud of my effort.” Douglass added that while she can push through shorter distances, a 200 IM requires her to be in peak condition.

In contrast, Regan Smith shone brightly by winning the 200m backstroke with a time of 2:00.42, placing her 10th on the all-time list for that event. She narrowly beat Anastasiya Shkurday (with a time of 02:01:31) and Beata Nelson, from the United States (with a time of 02:02:56). This puts Smith in the second position, for points at 59 points currently. And guess what? She is trailing still behind Douglass by just 0.1 point.

Reflecting on her race, Smith said, “It was a good race, but it was a pretty close race. I was pushed the whole time, which I really enjoyed. It’s good to practice racing. I am happy with the time as well. I love World Cup racing. It’s been so great; the atmosphere has been amazing, the fans have been awesome. It’s been a very positive experience.” With both athletes consistently pushing each other, it’s clear that the competition is heating up as they continue to make waves in the swimming world. Despite the intensity of their rivalry, Kate and Smith remain close friends.

Regan Smith and Kate Douglass celebrate Olympic successes in Paris

That evening on day 2, in Shanghai, saw Kate Douglass deliver a performance also in the 50-meter butterfly event by clinching the spot and setting a new American record of 24:54 seconds, along with securing another victory in the 100-meter individual medley event with an impressive time of 56:99 seconds on the opening night of the World Cup competition.

Douglass became the first American woman to swim under 57 seconds in the individual medley, initially tying the record with Beata Nelson at 57.72 seconds in the prelims before breaking it in the finals. The United States is leading the medal count with 11 medals—seven gold and four silver—while China has 16. Australia is in third place with seven medals, but many of its top swimmers, including Kaylee McKeown and Ariarne Titmus, chose not to compete. But at the same time, Smith and Kate made America proud in the Paris Olympics.

Kate Douglass and Regan Smith basked in the glow of their Olympic successes. Smith was part of the gold medal-winning 4×100 women’s medley team that not only clinched victory but also broke a U.S. world record. “I just had a feeling. I was so ready for us to end things off on such a high note, and we did. That feeling of breaking a world record just gets sweeter every time,” Smith added.

Douglass also shined brightly in Paris, securing gold in the 200-meter breaststroke and joking about the weight of her medals: “It’s kind of fun to complain, like, ‘Oh my God, all my medals are weighing me down!” Both swimmers, who competed in Tokyo, expressed excitement about their growth since then, with Smith stating, “Kate and I are really close, and I’m at a loss for words when I think about it and try to process it.” With their impressive performances, it’s clear they’re poised to make Team USA proud once again.