American swimmer Kate Douglass shattered the women’s 50-meter freestyle world record on Friday during a U.S. Pro Swim Series competition held in Indianapolis.
Douglass, 24, who claimed gold in the 200-meter breaststroke at the 2024 Paris Olympics, touched the wall at 23.59 seconds — besting the previous world record of 23.61 set by Swedish Olympic champion Sarah Sjostrom at the 2023 world championships in Fukuoka, Japan.
Speaking to broadcaster Peacock shortly after her swim, Douglass could barely contain her disbelief. “I mean wow, that’s crazy, I think I’m still in shock, I don’t even know what to say,” she said.
“I was really just hoping to go a best time, break the American record. That’s a lot faster than I ever thought I would go tonight, or ever,” Douglass added.
She touched out Gretchen Walsh, who finished in 23.78 seconds. The two had previously shared the U.S. record at 23.91.
