Kate Douglass named Women’s Swimmer of the Year by college swimming association

Pelham native Kate Douglass was named Women’s Swimmer of the Year by the College Swimming and Diving Association of America (CSCAA). Douglass broke American records in the 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly and 200 breaststroke at the NCAA Women’s Championships last month.

Winners were chosen by votes from NCAA Division I coaches and one fan poll where Douglass received 56% of the votes. Douglass’ head coach at Virginia, Todd DeSorbo, was named Coach of the Year.

Following the NCAAs, news site swimswam.com awarded its Swammies and also gave its Swimmer of the Year Award to Douglass.

Pointing to the records she broke, swimswam.com wrote, “That sort of versatility is rare even among the rare and most-elite swimmers in NCAA history. The only swimmers in the modern era of the sport who really feel comparable. Caeleb Dressel, who broke NCAA records in the 50 free, 100 free, 100 fly, 100 breast and 200 IM, might compare. Tracy Caulkins in the early 80s won 12 career NCAA titles, including in butterfly, breaststroke and IM races.”

Douglass competed in the 2020 Winter Tokyo Olympics, earning a bronze medal in the 200 individual medley. She is a 2019 graduate of the Pelham Memorial High School.