"It was a surprise to come away with a new World Record time; I never thought I would be capable of getting that," Douglass told World Aquatics. "It's a very exciting feeling, and I look forward to seeing how I improve in the 200m breaststroke this year."


The reigning Olympic 200m breaststroke champion from the Paris 2024 Games, Douglass added her first World Record in the 25m pool by besting fellow American Rebecca Soni's previous World Record of 2:14.57. Soni held the record since December 2009, having set it during the non-textile "super-suit" era.

Known for her racing versatility, Douglass has individual World titles in the Women's 200m Medley (Fukuoka 2023) and 200m Breaststroke (Hungary 2022). The 22-year-old also has  Olympic silver (Paris 2024) and bronze (Tokyo 2020) in the Women's 200m Medley and her Paris 2024 gold in the Women's 200m breaststroke. Including relays, Douglass is a 14-time World and 5-time Olympic medallist. 

Image Source: Kate Douglass racing in the Women's 200m Breaststroke at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan (Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Douglass is racing for the first time on the Swimming World Cup circuit and came into Incheon in great form. She won the Women's Swimming World Cup overall event title in Shanghai last weekend and remains undefeated through six events.