Kate Douglass delivered a historic performance at the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, California, on Saturday, resetting the 50m freestyle world record twice in one day. The American swimmer first clocked 23.49 seconds during the morning heats, only to return later and lower the mark to a stunning 23.19 seconds in the final to secure the gold medal.
This performance eclipsed the previous world record of 23.55 seconds, which had been set by fellow American Gretchen Walsh in Rome on June 28. Walsh’s record had itself surpassed a mark set by Douglass earlier that same month on June 19. In Saturday’s final, Douglass finished 55-hundredths of a second ahead of Walsh, who claimed silver in 23.74 seconds, while Australia’s reigning world champion Meg Harris took bronze in 23.89 seconds.
Shortly after her sprint victory, Douglass returned to the pool to earn silver in the 200m breaststroke with a time of 2:22.57. That event was won by Canada’s Alexanne LePage, who touched the wall in 2:21.73.
In other competition highlights, Australian swimmer Jamie Jack claimed the men’s 50m freestyle gold in 21.35 seconds. His teammate Zac Stubblety-Cook secured another victory for Australia in the men’s 200m breaststroke, rallying from fourth place at the final turn to finish in 2:08.09. Japan’s Tomoyuki Matsushita also enjoyed success, completing a men’s medley double with a 200m victory in 1:56.02.
The women’s 200m medley saw an upset as Chinese Olympian Yu Yiting held off a late surge from Summer McIntosh to win in 2:07.45. McIntosh, the reigning world and Olympic champion, finished with the silver in 2:07.47, while American Alex Walsh rounded out the podium in 2:07.66.
For McIntosh, the meet has been marked by mixed results. After opening with a runner-up finish to Lani Pallister in the 200m freestyle and winning the 400m medley, she missed the championship final in the 400m freestyle after misjudging her preliminary swim.
The Pan Pacific Championships continue to serve as a premier showcase for top swimming talent from non-European nations. The event remains a focal point for international competition as athletes continue to push for new world records and podium finishes.
The American sliced three-tenths of a second off the world record of 23.49sec
Douglass returned less than half an hour later to claim silver in the 200m breaststroke won by Canadian Alexanne LePage in 2:21.73.
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Source: Gulf News
