Team USA’s hopes for a double-podium finish in the women’s 200m individual medley were dashed when one of their swimmers was disqualified post-race.
Kate Douglass and Alex Walsh initially appeared to finish second and third, respectively, in Saturday’s race, seemingly earning two more medals for the U.S. at the Paris Olympics. However, officials soon announced a review of part of Walsh’s race, specifically examining one of her turns during the backstroke to breaststroke transition.
Soon after, it was confirmed that Walsh would be disqualified for an illegal turn. The issue was that she did not finish the backstroke on her back while making the turn into the wall for the breaststroke segment.
NBC swimming analyst Rowdy Gaines explained, “She rolls over…she went past vertical, that’s the problem. The head has to come back and cannot go past that 90-degree mark. From that angle, that looks like that’s the right call.”
As a result of Walsh’s disqualification, Kate Douglass secured second place with a time of 2:06:92, just over three-tenths of a second behind Canada’s Summer McIntosh, who set an Olympic record with a time of 2:06:56 to win the gold. Australia’s Kaylee McKeown earned the bronze.
Douglass and Team USA advanced to the 4x100m medley relay final after placing second in the heats.
Reflecting on the event, Douglass and the Team USA swimmers remain focused on their continued performances in the 2024 Paris Olympics.