Kate Douglass and Gretchen Walsh went head-to-head on Thursday night during the UVA Pro Elite SCM Worlds Prep meet in Charlottesville, posting two of the fastest swims ever in the women’s 100 freestyle (SCM).
Douglass, the world record holder in the event at 49.93, used a strong final 25 to get the better of Walsh at the finish, touching in a time of 50.20 compared to Walsh’s 50.32.
Walsh held the slight lead at the 50, flipping in 23.97 to Douglass’ 24.01, but Douglass came home in 26.19 compared to Walsh’s 26.35 to book the victory.
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Douglass’ swim gives her the three-fastest performances of all-time, having already owned the top two after breaking the world record last year during the World Cup in Westmont (50.19) before re-lowering it one week later in Toronto (49.93).
For Walsh, her time falls just one one-hundredth shy of her personal best time of 50.31, set at the 2024 SC World Championships, and ranks in a tie for the sixth-fastest swim ever.
All-Time Performances, Women’s 100 Freestyle (SCM)
- Kate Douglass (USA), 49.93 – 2025 World Cup – Toronto
- Kate Douglass (USA), 50.19 – 2025 World Cup – Westmont
- Kate Douglass (USA), 50.20 – 2026 UVA Pro Elite SCM Worlds Prep Meet
- Cate Campbell (AUS), 50.25 – 2017 Australian SC Championships
- Gretchen Walsh (USA), 50.31 – 2024 SC World Championships
- Marrit Steenbergen (NED) / Gretchen Walsh (USA), 50.32 – 2026 World Cup – Baku / 2026 UVA Pro Elite SCM Worlds Prep Meet
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- Marrit Steenbergen (NED), 50.42 – 2025 European SC Championships
- Gretchen Walsh (USA), 50.49 – 2024 SC World Championships
- Emma McKeon (AUS) / Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 50.58 – 2021 World Cup – Budapest / 2017 World Cup – Eindhoven
The UVA Pro Elite SCM Worlds Prep Meet is being used as preparation for the U.S. Short Course World Championship Trials, which will run Oct. 28-31 in Westmont.
Douglass and Walsh should have no problem qualifying for the American roster there, and then they’ll head to the 2026 Short Course World Championships in Beijing on Dec. 1-6. At the last edition in 2024, Walsh won seven gold medals and broke 11 world records (including relays), while Douglass won four gold and seven total medals while lowering four world records (including relays).
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