The Week That Was: Kate Douglass Builds Legacy as One of Greatest College Swimmers in History

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The Week That Was, Sponsored by Suitmate

The Week That Was featured an incredible women’s NCAA championships in both the DI and DIII conferences. The Division I championship saw an incredible production, producing a plethoera of new American records.

The Week That Was #1: Kate Douglass Builds Legacy as One of Greatest College Swimmers in History After Unprecedented 3 American Records in 3 Different Strokes

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

by Dan D’Addona

It is easy to see how dominant Kate Douglass has become in the sport of swimming. Three American records in three individual races at the NCAA Championships is easy for people to wrap their heads around.

What is difficult to wrap their heads around is the variety of events those records and championships came in.

Many dominant swimmers have had three titles, and even three records, in one meet.

The Week That Was #2: 2022 NCAA Division III Championships: Kenyon Wins Down-to-the-Wire Women’s Title

Photo Courtesy: Kenyon Athletics

by Matthew De George

Kenyon’s women’s swim team needed to finish no worse than sixth in the final of the 400 freestyle relay to win the 2022 NCAA Division III Championships. It got that done with a little room to spare.

The team of Alexandra White, Sydney Geboy, Crile Hart and Emmie Mirus finished third, capping a pair of event wins earlier in the night as the Ladies held on in a tight team race.

Denison had surged to the lead behind three swimmers in the top five of the 1,650 freestyle. But wins by Mirus in the 100 free and Hart in the 200 back seized control for Kenyon on the way to their record-setting 24th crown.

The Week That Was #3: 2022 NCAA Women’s Championships Day 2 Finals: Lia Thomas Wins 500 Freestyle ‘It Means the World’

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

by Dan D’Addona

Penn swimmer Lia Thomas became the first known transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I championship on Thursday.

Thomas won the 500-yard freestyle at the 2022 NCAA Women’s Division I Swimming and Diving Championships in Atlanta.

It was a close race throughout with Erica Sullivan, Emma Weyant and Brooke Forde all making moves. But Thomas pulled away and on in 4:33.24.

The Week That Was #4: PBS to Air Documentary Feature on “Ambassador of Aloha” Duke Kahanamoku (Video Trailer)

Duke Kahanamoku; Photo Courtesy: Ian Lind/PBS

by Matthew de George

PBS has produced a feature documentary titled, “American Masters: Waterman — Duke: Ambassador of Aloha,” a new look at a groundbreaking figure in American swimming.

The documentary is narrated by Jason Momoa. It features rare archival footage and interviews with world famous surfers Laird Hamilton, Kelly Slater and Carissa Moore as well as musician Jack Johnson. It will premiere May 10 at 9 p.m.

The Week That Was #5: Campbell Stoll, Scott Buff Double At NCSA Champs; Nate Germonprez Adds Third Title

Photo Courtesy: Campbell Stoll

by John Lohn

Make it three titles for Nate Germonprez at the National Club Swimming Association Championships (NCSA), as the Texas recruit took gold on Saturday night in the 200-yard individual medley. Germonprez posted a time of 1:44.58 to finish more than a second clear of Josh Zuchowski, who checked in with a swim of 1:45.92.

Germonprez, who is among the top recruits in the country in the Class of 2023, placed first in the 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke earlier in the meet. Once he arrives at Texas, he figures to step into the lineup for the Longhorns as the replacement to Caspar Corbeau. Texas and Corbeau are currently preparing for next week’s NCAA Men’s Championships.

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