The mutual relationship between Kate Douglass and UVA reached its pinnacle in the last several seasons when the swimmer topped the NCAA swimming encounters. Moreover, the clinical help from the University’s biomechanical department improved Kate Douglass’s underwater movement to an intimidating level. The healthy competition from coursemates like Alex and Gretchen Walsh held another significance in that improving session. So now, the 22-year-old swimmer is vying for international titles yet again to check her prowess before the Olympic juggernaut. 

Doha World Aquatics Championships came on that route, giving Kate Douglass a chance to fill up her quest. Though the UVA swimmer missed her pool mates in Doha, she gathered her mojo to repeat her daunting performances there.

Kate Douglass earns the 200m IM final chance with a stellar performance

Despite the absence of formidable names, Kate Douglass found the 200m IM event in the Doha 2024 Aquatics Championships to be a breeze. The sole reason for her debacle in that event was only the presence of Marrit Steenbergen. The Dutch swimmer gave certain hiccups to the major names in the past. This time, Kate Douglass was counting her stars before coming to Marrit. On that estimate, the SF timing in the 200m IM event in Doha went as expected. Kate Douglass hurled at Marrit with the timing, 2:08.11. The SwimSwam Live’s X-handle minutely listed the names and timings of the qualified swimmers.

However, the Dutch prodigy posted her 2:11.23 in opposing the 2023 US Open Swimming gold medalist. Eventually, for the final event, she came in the 6th position to continue her streak. Moreover, keeping herself in a prime position for the medals, in Doha, Marrit Steenbergen already claimed the 4×100 free gold in the relay contention. So, Kate Douglass would watch her out while moving to the final round of the event. 

Meanwhile, in the 200m IM event, the New Yorker already has the experience of humbling giants. Last time in the US Open Swimming Championship 2023, Kate Douglass defeated her senior university mate, Alex Walsh by a fraction of a second. Moreover, on the same day, she made another attempt at decimating Olympians at the 50m free event. Eventually, the 22-year-old swimmer achieved that feat as well. 

Read more: 11 Years Later, Kate Douglass Breaks Historic Record To Clinch 200m Breakstroke At Knoxville Pro Series

So on the matter of resilience, Kate Douglass might give a hard time to Marrit Steenbergen in the final event. However, the occurrence of heartbreak is always on the card. 

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