Siroky sneaks past Douglass by two hundredths
McKenzie Siroky held off Kate Douglass down the stretch to win the women's 100m breaststroke national title by 0.02 seconds at the USA Swimming National Championships.
Video Transcript
Mackenzie Saroki, Tennessee Aquatics, raced her way to the national title in the 50 breast here in Irvine.
Swam that event at Worlds last summer.
Third quick in the heats here for the 100.
From New York Athletic Club and the University of Virginia, the reigning Olympic champion and world champion of the 200 breast, Kate Douglas.
Last year's national champ, as you saw, and world silver medalist of the 100 breast.
Emma Weber, another University of Virginia Cavalier.
Swam this race in Paris for Team USA.
Won Olympic relay gold at those Olympics as well.
Second quick in the heats for this final.
Anita Battaggio, two-time world finalist in the 50 breast for Italy.
Swims at Indiana collegiately.
Sixth at the Worlds last summer in Singapore in the 100 breaststroke.
Lucy Thomas from Alto Swim Club at Stanford.
She was fourth in the 50 breast so far.
And Adeline Robillard, another Stanford swimmer from Alto Swim Club, stepping out to lane eight.
The 19-year-old the runner up in the 200 breast here at these nationals.
Kate Douglas, Rowdy.
Not a full schedule here at nationals.
A little tuneup for Pan Pacs here in a couple of weeks.
Right.
8/10 faster than anybody else in the heats.
Right.
And, you know, I wish I could explain to the layman that doesn't know swimming how incredibly versatile she is.
Emma Weber, the other Olympian in this group, was second at the trials back in 24, represented the United States in Paris.
But when you talk about Douglas, her versatility, again, former world record holder in the 50, Olympic champion in the 200 breaststroke.
Hang on.
Take your marks.
For comparison, Jason, real quick, think of that as being a best in the world in the javelin or shot put, and then going and winning or breaking the world record or winning a gold medal in the 10,000 in track and field.
That's sort of what it's like.
It's, it is the most amazing versatility for two events I've ever seen in swimming.
Certainly has turned some heads across this sport with what she's accomplished and what's still yet to come.
Saroki, yeah, the champ of the 50, looking good in this opening 50 of the 100.
Sure is.
1:06.2 is her best, but boy that pull out, that's where her biggest edge is, in that turn that Kate Douglas has.
Saroki's going to have a spectacular race, and this is really good for Saroki and good for Douglas.
They are pushing each other right now.
What a battle here.
Saroki the star of the 50, Douglas the star of a lot of things in breaststroke.
What a battle, and at the end, how about it?
Saroki holds off Douglas, denying her a second straight national title by two hundredths of a second.
Saroki doubles up as a national champ.
I love the reaction.
You, you gotta see that reaction one more time on the replay.
She looks at it and she goes, "What?
What?
I just beat Kate Douglas?
I, I took down an Olympic champion and world record holder.
How, how did I do that?"
Well, you just did it with the best time.
Oh my goodness.
Absolutely.
Go Vols.
Wow.
And now remember, Kate Douglas has come to swim at the Pan Pacific Championships in two weeks, and that time was fantastic.
I mean, her time there f- 1:05.66 is the third fastest time, or fourth fastest time in the world, because now the third fastest time in the world this year is Mackenzie Saroki.
Pull out, no doubt about it.
Kate Douglas much better there.
And then you thought, Kate Douglas second 50, no way.
See you later.
No.
This is the kind of meet Saroki's having.
And this is the kind of meet the US desperately needs from a woman like Saroki because right now Kate Douglas is basically it in the 100 breaststroke.
Yes, there's Emma Weber.
Yes, there are some other great swimmers.
But now you've found another one, Mackenzie Saroki.
Mackenzie, you needed a second to catch your breath.
You told me you thought Kate had you.
How did you get your hand on that wall first?
I just kept my head down and prayed that it would do it.
It certainly got there, and a new lifetime best for you as well in the 100 breast.
How has your training prepared you for this moment and this meet, your second national title here?
I'm gonna be honest, I really struggled these past two months in practice, but I think talking to my coach, just trusting the process and that I'd feel my stroke and rhythm again coming back into this meet.
It just feels amazing to know that everything I've done these past couple month are, are paying off.
They certainly are.
Congrats again, Mackenzie.
Thank you so much.
