Taylor Swift, known for her timeless music, continues to enchant fans worldwide and proves that she’ll never go out of style. Surprisingly, even in the sporting world, her influence shines through. A 22-year-old U.S. Olympic swimmer, Kate Douglass, who is set to compete in the upcoming trials starting on June 15th and whose Olympic aspirations are high, is also a fan of hers. But there’s a fascinating twist—she has a special wish for the Olympics that only Taylor Swift can fulfill. This wish could potentially give her an extra edge on her journey to the Olympics.
During an interview with Wrex.com on June 10th, Douglass was questioned about her bucket list. To this, she enthusiastically replied, “Skydiving, definitely, meeting Taylor Swift, and probably staying in an overwater bungalow in the Maldives. ” Subsequently, she was presented with a Taylor Swift cutout, to which she playfully remarked, “Taylor, Taylor, you should come to Paris to watch me swim so that you can then sing me a song after my race and make all the pain go away.” It seemed to be that she let loose her playful disposition here, a stark contrast to her pure champion energy in the turquoise waters.
Kate Douglass revealed her admiration for Taylor Swift by highlighting her favorite songs, such as ‘Our Song’ and ‘All Too Well (10-minute version).’ This connection with Swift goes beyond music, as shown on May 30th last year when Douglass shared a post on Instagram. In the post, she and her sister Abby were sporting t-shirts featuring Taylor Swift’s image, with the caption stating, “Came for the tailgate, stayed for Taylor Swift.” The gesture indicated her genuine fandom and excitement over attending Swift’s concert. If Taylor Swift were to attend the event in Paris, it would undoubtedly be an advantage for Kate Douglass, who stands as a symbol of pride and hope for the USA on the international stage.
Kate Douglass is a beacon of hope come the Paris Olympics
Douglass’ journey to Olympic contention began when she broke swimming records as a high school sophomore in 2016, setting herself on a path to collegiate success. Opting to enroll at the University of Virginia, Douglass excelled both in the pool and academically, showcasing her talent with multiple collegiate records and prestigious wins. Her stellar performances include setting University of Virginia records in five different events, such as the 50- and 100-yard freestyles, 200-yard breaststroke, 100-yard butterfly, and 200-yard IM.
At the recent World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar, setting a personal best time of 2:07.05 and winning silver in the 50 free and gold in 200 breaststroke. Looking ahead to the Paris Olympic Games, Kate Douglass aims to compete in the 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, and 200 IM, potentially with relays, as the schedule may limit her to three events due to timing constraints. Despite the logistical challenges, Douglass remains focused on her performance rather than Olympic outcomes, drawing confidence from her Tokyo experience to embrace upcoming Trials with excitement rather than nerves.
