Kate Douglass breaks 50m freestyle world record at Pan Pacs

American swimmer Kate Douglass broke the women's 50m freestyle world record at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, California. She clocked 23.49 seconds in the heats on Saturday, reclaiming the record from teammate Gretchen Walsh. Reports differ on whether she broke the record twice in one day; the Guardian frames the record as set in the heats ahead of a final showdown with Walsh.

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Douglass breaks 50m freestyle world record twice in one day

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Guardian Published 15 August 2026

American Kate Douglass reclaims 50m freestyle world record at Pan Pacs

American clocks 23.49sec in Pan Pacs heats Douglass reclaims record from teammate Walsh Pair to meet again in Saturday night’s final Kate Douglass shattered the women’s 50m freestyle world record on Saturday, clocking 23.49sec in the heats at the Pan Pacific Championships to set a tantalizing showdown with former record-holder Gretchen Walsh. Douglass improved on the world mark of 23.55sec that fellow-American Walsh…

CBS Published 15 August 2026

American Kate Douglass sets 50-meter freestyle world record at Pan Pacific

Kate Douglass, 24, is a five-time Olympic medalist.

BBC Published 15 August 2026

Douglass breaks 50m freestyle world record twice in one day

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