USA Swimming Sets Seven World Records on Day Four of 2024 World Aquatics Swimming Championships
On day four of the 2024 World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25-meter) USA Swimming claimed an astonishing seven world records, seven American records, seven championship records, and eight medals. The American team continues to distance themselves at the top of the medal table and have their eyes set on historic results.
In the first individual event of the evening, Kate Douglass (Pelham, N.Y./University of Virginia) added her third world record of the meet in the women’s 200m breaststroke (2:12.50). She was joined on the podium by teammate Alex Walsh (Nashville, Tenn./University of Virginia), who earned bronze.
In the next event, Regan Smith (Lakeville, Minn./Longhorn Aquatics) and Katharine Berkoff (Missoula, Mont./Wolfpack Elite) went 1-2 in the women's 50m backstroke, with R. Smith's final time of 25.23 setting a new world record. Later in the evening, Gretchen Walsh (Nashville, Tenn./University of Virginia) and Douglass claimed the second gold-silver duo in the women's 100m individual medley. G. Walsh's time of 55.11 was a new world record, her third of the day after setting new world record times in the prelim and semifinal of the women's 100m butterfly.
In the final event of the evening, teammates Luke Hobson (Reno, Nev./University of Texas), Carson Foster (Cincinnati, Ohio/Longhorn Aquatics), Shaine Casas (McAllen, Texas/Longhorn Aquatics), and Kieran Smith (Ridgefield, Conn./Gator Swim Club) dominated the field in the men's 4x200m freestyle relay, winning the event by over five seconds. Hobson kickstarted their world record swim with an individual world record 200m freestyle lead-off split of 1:38.91.
This morning, during the heats, Jillian Cox (Cedar Park, Texas, University of Texas) swam 15:41.29 in the women's 1500m freestyle. Her time ultimately placed her third overall, earning a bronze medal after tonight's final.
USA Swimming Meet Notes:
Twenty-six total medals (13g,8s,5b)
Fourteen world records, 19 American records, and 20 championship records
Four 1-2 finishes (women’s 200m individual medley, women’s 100m backstroke, women’s 50m backstroke, and women’s 100m individual medley)
Seven events with two American athletes on the podium (women’s 200 individual medley, women’s 100m backstroke, women’s 100m freestyle, men’s 400m freestyle, women’s 200m breaststroke, women’s 50m backstroke, and women’s 100m individual medley)
The full medal table is available here.
Women’s 200m Breaststroke – FINAL
GOLD – Kate Douglass (Pelham, N.Y./University of Virginia) 2:12.50*
BRONZE – Alex Walsh (Nashville, Tenn./University of Virginia), 2:16.83
*world record
Douglass on her world record swim: “Obviously, after dropping so much time at the (World Aquatics Swimming World Cup – Singapore), I wasn’t sure if I would be able to (break the world record) again. I’ve been working a lot on breaststroke, and I came into this race knowing it would be a tight race because there are so many good competitors in it. I just kind of pushed it from the beginning, I had a stroke count I knew I had to stick to. I went with (my plan) and I’m really happy I was able to get right under my best time.”
A. Walsh on her swim: “I’m happy to have gone a best time. I think doing short course meters is always a little bit of a challenge, just because we don’t often swim it in the (United) States. I’m happy to be learning while racing and also get the chance to race. Kate (Douglass) just broke a world record, and so many girls in (the competition) are the best in the world. It’s very good practice to be able to race them for future Worlds and the Olympics.”
Men’s 200m Breaststroke – FINAL
6 – AJ Pouch (Henderson, Nev./Virginia Tech), 2:02.84
Women’s 50m Backstroke – FINAL
GOLD – Regan Smith (Lakeville, Minn./Longhorn Aquatics), 25.23*
SILVER – Katharine Berkoff (Missoula, Mont./Wolfpack Elite), 25.61
*world record
Smith on her world record: “I didn’t think I was capable of 25.2 tonight. It’s a quick world record, and I think Maggie Mac Neil had it, and she’s a great sprinter, very talented. I wanted to go a personal best, my previous was 25.4 from (World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2024) Singapore, and I had a great meet in Singapore. I thought if I could be right around there, that would be great. That was a very very pleasant surprise, and I didn’t hit my turn great either…. that was genuinely an oh my gosh it all worked out, thank goodness, reaction when I finished. That was great, that was super fun.”
Berkoff on her race: “I’m definitely happy I was able to get out there and do the best I could do. It was a big summer, and coming off of (the Paris Games) has been complicated in its own way, but I’m really happy to be swimming right now. I’m having a lot of fun, and it’s been a great meet so far.”
Women’s 100m Butterfly – Semifinal
1 – Gretchen Walsh (Nashville, Tenn./University of Virginia), 52.87*
*world record
Race note: G. Walsh also earned a world record in prelims for her 53.24 swim.
G. Walsh on how her butterfly has progressed over the years: “It wasn’t until probably my second year in college that I got back into (swimming) fly. It’s just crazy how much I’ve been able to improve in the stroke, overall, in the past two to three years. I really think I’ve found my groove with (the stroke), and it is cool to say that I can almost compare my butterfly times with my freestyle times. It’s been pretty remarkable to see how I’ve been able to improve myself, and keep striving for new goals.”
Men’s 100m Butterfly – Semifinal
5 – Dare Rose (Jersey City, N.J./California Aquatics), 49.14
Women’s 100m Individual Medley– FINAL
GOLD – Gretchen Walsh (Nashville, Tenn./University of Virginia), 55.11*
SILVER – Kate Douglass (Pelham, N.Y./University of Virginia), 56.49
*world record
G. Walsh on her back-to-back world record double: “I was just trying to relax and try to rest. Honestly, I sat down in the ready room and breathed. I was just trying to stay calm. Normally, when I’m in the ready room, I like to stretch a lot, move around, do jumping jacks, and get myself warmed up...but I was like, ‘I am warmed up for this race.’ The 100 fly was a great setup for the 100 IM. It got me relaxed and took away all the nerves. Not that I want to do another double like that, but I do think those two events benefitted from having them back-to-back.”
Douglass on her double: “I’m really happy with the (100 IM). Tonight, I was really focused on the 200 breast, and was going to just see how the (100 IM) went tonight. I’m really happy to get silver next to Gretchen (Walsh).”
Men’s 100m Individual Medley– FINAL
4 – Michael Andrew (Encinitas, Calif./MA Swim Academy), 51.37
Women’s 1500m Freestyle – FINAL
BRONZE – Jillian Cox (Cedar Park, Texas, University of Texas), 15:41.29
11 – Kate Hurst (Hillsdale, N.J./University of Texas), 15:55.11
Cox on her medal performance: “(Watching the final heat swim) was the most stressful 15 minutes of my life. I’ve never been so anxious; I was shaking the entire time.”
Cox on advice for younger swimmers: “You can still medal from those morning swims; you just have to give it all you have. Don’t count yourself out.”
Men’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay – FINAL
GOLD – USA, 6:40.51*
Luke Hobson (Reno, Nev./University of Texas), 1:38.91**
Carson Foster (Cincinnati, Ohio/Longhorn Aquatics)
Shaine Casas (McAllen, Texas/Longhorn Aquatics)
Kieran Smith (Ridgefield, Conn./Gator Swim Club)
*world record
**world record lead off split
Hobson on his world record split: “It was great. On these relays, I like getting these boys out as far ahead as possible. I think I did a good job today at that. I was super happy to lead off under the world record and I am super proud of these guys, we crushed this world record.”
Foster on the relay: “It was great. I knew going into it that Luke (Hobson) was going to challenge that world record. I saw Luke swim the first three 50’s and he was under (world record pace) and I said, ‘It’s going down!’ I’m glad I got to jump in and do my job on the second leg and set (Shaine Casas and Kieran Smith) up to close it hard.”
Casas on being part of the relay: “Honestly, I am kind of shocked. I wanted to be on this relay since (2021 FINA World Swimming Championships) Abu Dhabi, but it was always a scheduling issue.... I told myself the next time I am at this meet I need to do what I can to be part of that. I had a solid morning but tonight was about backing up my ability and fitness. I did my part as best as I could. These results speak for themselves because now I am a world record holder too.”
K. Smith on closing the relay: “They made it easy for me. I don’t know how far ahead we were at the 600. I just needed to close up shop and swim a really good race. I am happy to be a part of another world record relay for Team USA.”
Mixed 4x50m Freestyle Relay – Prelims
9 – USA, 1:31.08
Michael Andrew (Encinitas, Calif./MA Swim Academy)
Matt King (Snohomish, Wash./Indiana Swim Club)
Claire Weinstein (White Plains, N.Y./Sandpipers of Nevada)
Alex Shackell (Carmel, Ind./Carmel Swim Club)
Women’s 100m Butterfly – Prelim
DNS – Regan Smith (Lakeville, Minn./Longhorn Aquatics)
Men’s 100m Butterfly – Prelim
20 – Zach Harting (Huntsville, Ala./Cardinal Aquatics), 50.36
Competition continues through Sunday, December 15. Tomorrow’s action includes the women’s and men’s 100m butterfly final, 50m breaststroke semifinal, 50m freestyle semifinal, 400m individual medley final, men’s 800m freestyle final, and mixed 4x100m medley relay. Meet information and the complete competition schedule are available here.