Douglass breaks 50m freestyle world record second time in one day
Los Angeles, United States, Aug 16, 2026 (AFP) -
On August 16, 2026, American swimmer Kate Douglass shattered the 50m freestyle world record for the second time in a single day during the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, California. Douglass posted a blistering time of 23.19 seconds, outpacing her previous record of 23.49 seconds set earlier in the heats. The previous world record, previously held by Gretchen Walsh, was 23.55 seconds, achieved on June 28 in Rome.
Walsh secured silver with a time of 23.74 seconds, while reigning world champion Meg Harris from Australia claimed the bronze at 23.89 seconds. After her remarkable achievement, Douglass promptly prepared for the final of the 200m breaststroke event on the final day of the four-day international swimming meet featuring elite non-European competitors.
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