Kate Douglass wins 100 free at Olympic trials. Simone Manuel fourth
INDIANAPOLIS − In an absolutely stacked women’s 100-meter freestyle final Wednesday night, Kate Douglass won the thrilling event at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials at Lucas Oil Stadium to earn her spot on the 2024 team as a two-time Olympian.
With a time of 52.56, Douglass — who will now be a two-time Olympian after racing in Tokyo in 2021 — edged Torri Huske, who finished second and should join Douglass as the two Team USA swimmers in the individual event in Paris.
Afterward, Douglass told NBC Sports she was aiming to reach the 52.5-second mark after qualifying for the final with a time of 53.21.
“I’m really happy I did,” she said. “I’m really happy to be on this relay for Paris.”
Gretchen Walsh and American record holder Simone Manuel finished third and fourth, respectively, and are expected to join Douglass and Huske on the 4x100-meter freestyle relay team. Two-time Olympian Abbey Weitzeil — who could still be considered for the relay or as an alternate — finished fifth.
“I’m excited to be united on one front for Team USA in a couple weeks,” said Walsh, who already guaranteed her Olympic spot winning the 100-meter butterfly as the new world record holder. “We’re all great competitors but we’re greater than the sum of our parts.”
With six Olympians from previous Games in the final, it was always going to be a fast one with the eight finalists qualifying within 1.19 seconds of each other.
Fastest off the block, 22-year-old Douglass was fourth at the 50-meter turn, trailing fellow Virginia Cavalier Walsh, Manuel and Huske. But Douglass had, by far, the fastest second 50, and it was clear she’d win the final before hitting the wall.
Douglass finished her first Olympic Games three years ago with a bronze medal in the 200-meter individual medley. At trials, she’s also entered in the 200 IM and 50 freestyle, and she advanced to the 200 breaststroke semifinals Wednesday night.