Doha World Championships: USA Faces a Blow From China, Walks Away With Bronze 

The 2024 Doha World Aquatics Championships are coming to its final stages. With only a few days, the competition has been lightened up by some historic moments from swimmers, and leading the race is Team US who continue to add to their medal tally. But today, the gold has eluded them as Chinese and Dutch swimmers shine.

After Nic Fink’s bronze medal victory in the men’s 200m breaststroke finals and Kate Douglass’s silver triumph in the individual medley, America continues to cheer as the men’s team takes home another bronze. The 4x200m medley finals were led by Nic Fink, who gave it all twice.

U. S. takes bronze at Doha World Championships 2024

The latest addition to America’s medal tally at the 2024 Doha World Aquatics Championships came in the men’s 4x200m freestyle finals. The US, led by Nic Fink, finished in the 3rd position in 7:02:08 seconds to take the 2nd bronze of the day while China won the gold in 7:01:84 seconds. The silver medal was sealed by the Republic of Korea in 7:01:94 seconds in a breathtaking last-moment finish. Gold eluded America throughout the day with none of the stars upping their speeds.

The disappointment started with Kate Douglass losing to a Dutch swimmer in the women’s 100-meter freestyle. Netherlands’ Marrit Steenbergen was astonishingly fast throughout the 100 meters and finished in 52.26 seconds to take the gold home. While silver and bronze were secured by Hong Kong and Australia respectively, Douglass finished 5th in 53.02 seconds. However, she soon rose back in the 200-meter breaststroke finals, just like Nic Fink did.

Kate Douglass rises back

Douglass splashed hard after losing the freestyle event and finished the breaststroke finals in 2:20:91 to seal the silver medal. The NCAA icon missed the gold by 0.11 seconds as the Dutch swimmer earned 952 points with the gold medal. Earlier on day two, she won the gold in the 200m individual medley while Nic Fink had written history for America by winning the 100m breaststroke for the first time in 50 years.

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With only a couple of days left in the 2024 Doha World Swimming Championships, the 400m medley marked the end of Nic’s campaign. He will be back for the Olympic trials, and look to achieve his ultimate dream.

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