Kate Douglass breaks 50m freestyle world record at Pan Pacific Championships
Kate Douglass has shattered the women’s 50m freestyle world record by touching the wall in 23.49 seconds during the preliminary heats of the Pan Pacific Championships in California.
The 24-year-old eclipsed the previous global benchmark of 23.55 seconds, which was established by her compatriot Gretchen Walsh in Rome earlier this year.
This remarkable swim in the Irvine outdoor pool marks the second occasion the five-time Olympic medalist has lowered the sprint world record.
An ongoing rivalry pushes boundaries
The American previously claimed the record with a time of 23.59 seconds in June before Walsh swiftly surpassed that mark just nine days later.
Walsh also impressed in a subsequent heat on Saturday, clocking 23.78 seconds to ensure the pair advance as the top two qualifiers for the evening final.
Despite earning silver in the 50m freestyle at the 2024 World Championships, the New York native opted not to contest the event at the recent Paris Olympic Games.
Historic moment in California
The record-breaking sprint is the first individual global mark to fall at the current iteration of the Pan Pacific Championships.
The prestigious international meet features an elite field containing top competitors from the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, and China.