Kate Douglass Secures Gold in Women’s 200m Breaststroke at Paris 2024
At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Kate Douglass of Team USA won gold in the women’s 200m breaststroke, setting a new American record of 2:19.24. Tatjana Smith from South Africa took silver, while Tes Schouten from the Netherlands earned bronze. Douglass’s win is notable as it is her first Olympic gold, complementing her earlier silver in the 4x100m freestyle relay. Smith announced her retirement, and Schouten expressed joy and disbelief at her medal win.
At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Team USA’s Kate Douglass triumphed in the women’s 200m breaststroke with a time of 2:19.24 on Thursday, August 1, thereby breaking her previous American record set earlier this year. South Africa’s Tatjana Smith secured the silver medal, finishing in 2:19.60, while Tes Schouten from the Netherlands claimed bronze with a time of 2:21.05.
Douglass established an early lead in the race with powerful turns, although Smith closed the gap significantly in the third lap. However, Douglass regained her advantage in the final lap, ultimately clinching her first Olympic gold medal. This victory supplements the silver medal she previously won in the 4x100m freestyle relay at these Games. Douglass is set to compete again in the 200m individual medley, the same event in which she earned a bronze medal at Tokyo 2020.
In a statement about her race strategy, Douglass mentioned, “I knew if I went a best time and went the American record, that would probably win the race. So that was the plan.” She expressed excitement about her gold medal, stating, “I’m really excited. For a while I wasn’t sure if Olympic champion was going to be possible for me to say. And now it’s really exciting to see it happen.”
Tatjana Smith, who added a silver medal to her gold from the 100m breaststroke earlier in the Games, announced her retirement post-competition. Reflecting on her career, she noted, “I think I’m a very fortunate athlete… it was never about the medals. It’s always just trying to challenge myself, push myself.” She expressed hope to remain involved with the Olympics in a different capacity, saying, “You’ll probably see me at the next Olympics, but on the staff.”
Tes Schouten expressed her disbelief at winning her first Olympic medal, remarking, “It feels a bit unreal… I am happy and I am really shocked. I don’t think it has really kicked in as yet.” This achievement marks her as only the second swimmer from The Netherlands to compete in the Olympic final for the 200m breaststroke.
Lilly King, a three-time Olympic participant from Team USA, concluded her individual events at these Games, finishing eighth in the breaststroke. King has previously indicated that she will not compete in the upcoming LA 2028 Olympics.
The podium for the women’s 200m breaststroke concluded as follows:
– Gold: Kate Douglass, USA
– Silver: Tatjana Smith, RSA
– Bronze: Tes Schouten, NED
All results can be viewed at Olympics.com.
Kate Douglass’s victory in the women’s 200m breaststroke at the Paris 2024 Olympics highlights her exceptional talent and determination, marking her first Olympic gold medal. Tatjana Smith’s silver adds to her impressive accolades before retirement, and Tes Schouten’s bronze represents a significant achievement for her as a Dutch swimmer. The event reflects the competitive spirit of swimming on the Olympic stage and the personal milestones of each athlete involved.
Original Source: www.olympics.com
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