Douglass, Madden medal on first night at FINA Short Course World Championships

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Virginia junior Kate Douglass won gold as part of the 4×100 freestyle relay and UVA alum Paige Madden took bronze in the 200 freestyle on the first day of competition at the 2021 FINA Short Course World Championships on Thursday night in Abu Dhabi.

Madden picked up the first medal for Team USA with her bronze in the 200-meter freestyle. She placed third in 1:53.01 after posting a qualifying time of 1:53.30 in prelims.

Freshman Emma Weyant also took to the pool on Thursday, swimming the 400-meter individual medley. Weyant swam the fastest closing 50 in the prelims to just make the final in the event, qualifying in 4:32.97. In the final, the 400 IM Olympic silver medalist had the lead early and swam the second-fastest closing 50 as she took fourth in 4:27.45.

Junior Kate Douglass swam the leadoff leg of the 4×100 freestyle relay, going 52.39, in the finals to give Team USA a great start as the relay team tied Canada for gold with a time of 3:28.52.

Douglass qualified in the 200-meter individual medley, while Madden still has the 400-meter freestyle and Weyant has the 400-meter and 800-meter freestyle.