In 2023, Kate Douglass didn’t miss many chances to make her name etched in the swimming records book. The platform hasn’t mattered to her much. In the 2023 Atlanta Classic, Kate Douglass started her swimming endeavor with two gold medals, whereas in December, the US Open Swimming Championship also saw her clinching victory in the 200m IM. But still, she has not shown any indication to stop. Kate Douglass’s recent decision is another addition to that.
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After completing her US Open Swimming voyage, Kate Douglass is all set to participate in the World Aquatics Championship next year. The 22-year-old University of Virginia swimmer explained the reason for her participation.
Kate Douglass prefers another big swimming tournament
When her participation chances felt gloomy, Kate Douglass went on to make a statement about it herself. Recently in an interview with a channel, she pulled curtains over her chances.
Rather optimistically, she added, “I talked to my coach and we agreed it was a good idea to compete in a big tournament. We usually compete in the NCAA and ACC tournaments around that time of year, so it wouldn’t really interfere with my training. As always. I will only play in February.”
The X-handle, @swimcoverage posted her above-mentioned statement with the caption, “Kate Douglas on why she decided to participate in the World Aquatics Championships in Doha next February”
🇺🇸ケイト・ダグラス
来年2月開催の世界水泳ドーハ出場を決めた理由についてKate Douglass
「コーチと話し合って、大きな大会に出ることはいい考えだと一致した。例年その時期にNCAAやACCの大会に出ているし、特にトレーニングに支障をきたすものではないってね。いつものように2月に試合に出るだけ」 pic.twitter.com/1SQPdSniaa— 競泳NEWS (@swimcoverage) December 4, 2023
Reportedly, Claire Curzan, Kate’s University of Virginia teammate, also decided to join her in Doha next year. However, till now, uncertainty has loomed over the number of events Kate Douglass might participate in Doha.
The Olympic chances for the Athlete of the Year
Kate Douglass has not stopped trying her swimming limits these days. Except for the team titles, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics medalist clinched titles in three unique events in the NCAA. Not just that, in 2022, Kate Douglass earned bronze in the 200m stroke.
In the 2023 World Aquatics Championships, she went past Alex Walsh, the defending champion to clinch victory in the 200m IM. Even 100m free didn’t go off the hook for her as Kate Douglass clinched a medal in that event as well in Fukuoka. So, before the Olympics, a lot of chances for the US team in the Paris Olympics might depend on her performance.
Expectations from Kate Douglass had also increased when she won the Female Athlete of the Year title in the Golden Goggle award in 2023. She shared the title with none other than the GOAT, Katie Ledecky. In a similar line with Katie, Kate Douglass was featured in the Forbes 30 under 30 list this year.
Watch this story: Revealed: Here’s How Swimming Queen Katie Ledecky Swims So Fast Without Getting Tired
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Purva Jain