SwimSwam Pulse: Douglass Edges Out McIntosh As Most Versatile Feminine Swimmer

SwimSwam Pulse is a recurring characteristic monitoring and analyzing the outcomes of our periodic A3 Performance Polls. You can solid your vote in our latest ballot on the SwimSwam homepage, about midway down the web page on the best facet.

Our most up-to-date ballot requested SwimSwam readers who essentially the most versatile feminine swimmer on the earth:

Question: Is Kate Douglass essentially the most versatile feminine swimmer on the earth?

RESULTS

• Yes – 53.0%
• No (McIntosh) – 43.8%
• No (McKeown) – 1.8%
• No (Other) – 1.4%

Let’s begin by clarifying that there’s no flawed reply. It’s only a basic sports-talk query that’s made for followers to debate.

The query of whether or not or not Kate Douglass was essentially the most versatile feminine swimmer on the earth got here to the forefront two weeks in the past when she surprised everybody (together with herself) by breaking the world document within the 50 freestyle.

As the reigning Olympic and world champion within the 200 breaststroke, Douglass changing into the quickest swimmer in historical past within the 50 free made for maybe the rarest two-event combo potential within the sport. It’s laborious to discover a world-class 200 breaststroker who’s aggressive in one other single-stroke occasion, and even IM, making Douglass’ climb to the highest of the mountain within the 50 free all of the extra exceptional.

Of course, Douglass’ reign because the 50 free world document holder solely lasted simply over per week, as her Virginia coaching accomplice Gretchen Walsh took down her newly-minted mark of 23.59 9 days later on the Sette Colli Trophy in 23.55.

Regardless, it doesn’t diminish Douglass’ accomplishment, and the rarity of her talents fuelled the talk about whether or not or not she’s the world’s most versatile feminine swimmer.

Her solely actual rival within the dialog is Summer McIntosh, who has a extra wide-ranging talent set because the world document holder within the 400 free, 200 IM and 400 IM, being the second-fastest swimmer ever within the 800 free and 200 fly, and in addition rating #5 all-time within the 200 free.

Douglass, alternatively, is a two-time LC world champion within the 200 IM, gained silver within the 100 breast on the 2025 World Championships, and ranks eighth all-time within the 50 fly, fifteenth within the 100 free and twenty first within the 100 fly.

In the ballot, though it was shut, Douglass got here out on high with 53% of voters choosing her as essentially the most versatile feminine swimmer on the earth, with McIntosh trailing at 43.8%.

Of course, the query was framed round Douglass, and maybe if it was requested in another way, the outcomes may’ve been a bit nearer. When we’re taking a look at versatility, McIntosh has the argument that she’s the perfect swimmer on the earth (by loads) within the 400 IM, which some would contemplate makes her essentially the most versatile swimmer, no questions requested.

At the tip of the day, they’re simply completely different swimmers. Douglass excels throughout the 50, 100 and 200-meter distances, whereas McIntosh ranges from 200 as much as 800. Putting Douglass excessive within the ballot was presumably the rarity of her talents within the 50 free and 200 breast.

Australian Kaylee McKeown picked up a handful of votes (1.8%) within the ballot, and on condition that she’s the perfect backstroker on the earth and in addition ranks #3 all-time within the 400 IM and #4 within the 200 IM, it felt mandatory to incorporate her.

Below, vote in our new A3 Performance Poll, which asks: Which of the three world document swims we’ve seen within the final two weeks caught you off guard essentially the most?

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ABOUT A3 PERFORMANCE

A3 Performance is an independently-owned, efficiency swimwear firm constructed on a ardour for swimming, athletes, and athletic efficiency. We encourage swimmers to swim higher and quicker in any respect ages and ranges, from newbies to Olympians.  Driven by a real chief and devoted employees which are obsessed with swimming and repair, A3 Performance strives to encourage and enrich the game of swimming with revolutionary and impactful merchandise that inspire swimmers to be their perfect – an A3 Performer.

The A3 Performance Poll is courtesy of A3 Performance, a SwimSwam accomplice.