Get ready for an exciting tale of aquatic prowess! The battle for the World Cup record in the 100 IM is on!
Last weekend, in the vibrant city of Carmel, two American swimming sensations, Gretchen Walsh and Kate Douglass, kicked off the 2025 World Cup circuit with an explosive start. These talented swimmers dominated the pool, each winning three events and securing the top two spots in the overall series rankings.
But here's where it gets intriguing: the only race where they went head-to-head was the women's 100 IM, a discipline where they both hold impressive records.
Let's rewind to last year. Douglass, with her three consecutive wins in the World Cup circuit, was a force to be reckoned with. However, Walsh stole the show at the Short Course World Championships in Budapest, claiming the gold and smashing the world record with an incredible time of 55.11 in the final. Her previous mark of 55.71, set just a night before in the semis, was also hers.
Douglass, not one to back down, set a personal best of 56.49 in the SC Worlds final, surpassing the legendary Katinka Hosszu's world record of 56.51 and securing the second spot on the all-time performers' list.
Fast forward to Friday in Carmel, and these two powerhouses went head-to-head once more. Walsh, with her butterfly prowess, took an early lead, extending it on the backstroke. She then held Douglass at bay during the breaststroke, entering the freestyle leg with a comfortable lead of nine-tenths.
Despite Douglass' valiant effort, closing the gap by almost half a second in the final 25 meters of freestyle, Walsh held strong and clinched the victory in a remarkable time of 55.91. This not only broke Hosszu's World Cup Record of 56.51 from 2017 but also secured the third-fastest performance ever! Walsh also bettered her own U.S. Open Record of 55.98, set during a college dual meet last October, when she first claimed the world record.
Douglass, determined as ever, set a new personal best of 56.34, securing the second spot.
And this is the part most people miss: Walsh's dominance in other events! She also claimed gold in the women's 50 fly, setting a new world record with a time of 23.72, and in the 100 fly, where she broke the World Cup and U.S. Open Records with a stunning 53.69.
The 100 IM was Douglass' only defeat, as she dominated in the women's 100 free (50.83), 100 breast (1:02.90), and 200 breast (2:13.97), with the latter two swims setting new U.S. Open Records.
As the second leg of the World Cup kicks off in Westmont, Ill., the battle for the overall series standings heats up. Walsh, with a slight lead of 59.1 over Douglass' 58.9, is poised for another thrilling performance.
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Stay tuned for more thrilling tales from the world of swimming! And don't forget to share your thoughts in the comments. Who do you think will emerge as the ultimate champion in this intense rivalry? Will Walsh continue her dominance, or will Douglass find a way to reclaim the top spot? The pool is the ultimate stage for these aquatic warriors!
