When Kate Douglas Dives in World Records Are on Notice – That is What Makes a Generational Superstar
Kate Douglass has become must-see TV.
Every time she dives in the water, it seems like something incredible is going to happen.
There are not many swimmers that give that feeling for a several-year stretch.
In the past half century, the names in U.S. women’s swimming who have had that kind of must-see feel are Janet Evans, Natalie Coughlin, Missy Franklin, Katie Ledecky, Gretchen Walsh and Douglass. There are some others who have had those kinds of must-see moments (Summer Sanders, Dara Torres, Amy VanDyken, Allison Schmitt, Lilly King, Regan Smith, Dana Vollmer, Torri Huske to name a few), but not quite to the same as having a prolong affect on each race every meet for years.
Douglass has become one of those generational global superstars.
At this week’s 2026 USA Swimming Short Course World Championship Trials, in Westmont, Illinois, Douglass wasted no time providing the must-see TV.
Douglass won the 200 breaststroke (2:14.12), then just 20 minutes later, won the 50 freestyle in 22.75, tying the world record set by Walsh earlier this month.
“Honestly, we were bound to share the world record and tie it together at one point,” Douglass said. “And I think that’s awesome.”
Douglass wasn’t finished, not by a longshot.
She broke the U.S. Open record in the 200 IM (2:01.66), then closed the meet with a world record in the 100 free (49.64).
“I think I exceeded my expectations for this meet. We aren’t rested at all and I have been pretty tired this fall in training,” Douglass said.
Having a week to race in a less-pressure situation, being a SCM meet, Douglass welcomed the change and the opportunity.
“I think it is really nice to switch gears a little bit. It is easier to go best times, but it takes time to get used to the race strategies,” Kate Douglass said. “The UVA pro meet boosted my confidence. We got one day of rest before this meet and I have enjoyed being back racing.”
Douglass had a full lineup in Westmont as she prepares for short course worlds in Beijing.
“I am happy with how things turned out at this meet. I picked my events in this meet based on how the lineup was going to be in China. Didn’t want to have too many doubles or any triples,” Kate Douglass said. “Hopefully with a little rest, I will feel more powerful and be able to go faster. It will be a lot of competition and it is going to be fun to get back to the international scene.”
And despite it being SCM, Douglass has her expectations. After all, she is must-see TV.
“I always go in with the expectation of trying to be on top of the podium and make the podium in all of my events,” Douglass said. “I really just want to go best times, and I guess that would mean world records at this meet.”
