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FUKUOKA, Japan – USA Swimming athletes collected four medals on Friday night at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships. The U.S. has now won 25 medals (3g, 13s, b) after 12 competition sessions at the Marine Messe Arena. 

Kate Douglass (Pelham, N.Y./New York Athletic Club) won her fourth medal of these Championships, claiming silver in the 200m breaststroke. Her time of 2:21.23 was just .01 off her personal best. Earlier this week she won the 200m individual medley, was second in the 200m breaststroke and earned bronze as a member of the mixed medley relay. 

Ryan Murphy (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./California Aquatics) picked up his third medal of these Championships with a silver in the 200m backstroke (1:54.83), earning a podium finish in the event for the fourth-consecutive World Championships. In Fukuoka, he’s also won gold in the 100m backstroke and bronze as a member of the mixed medley relay – now totaling 16 career World Championships medals. 

In his international debut, Matt Fallon (Warren, N.J./Athens Bulldog Swim Club/University of Pennsylvania) won bronze in the 200m breaststroke with a time of 2:07.74. He’s the Americans’ first medalist in the event since Kevin Cordes won silver in 2015. 

Jillian Cox, Henry McFadden, Jake Mitchell and Baylor Nelson made their World Championships (LCM) debut on Friday. 

Women’s 200m Breaststroke – FINAL 
SILVER – Kate Douglass (Pelham, N.Y./New York Athletic Club), 2:21.23 
Fourth – Lilly King (Evansville, Ind./Indiana Swim Club), 2:22.25 

Douglass on her performances: “I’m really proud of myself for both my races tonight. I knew it was going to be a challenge taking on the double of the 100 freestyle and 200 breaststroke, and I stepped up to that challenge. NCAA Championships and dual meet swimming prepare me for this. It was disappointing to miss the podium in the 100 freestyle. I think it really fueled me for the 200 breaststroke. I really wanted to get on the podium and get a medal for Team USA.” 

Men’s 200m Backstroke – FINAL 
SILVER – Ryan Murphy (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./California Aquatics), 1:54.83 

Murphy on his performance: “The race was solid. I wouldn’t say I executed a perfect race by any means. I’ll talk to the coaches about that, and we’ll really try to hone in on race strategy for next year. I always want to push that third 50 a little bit harder. That's the hardest part of the race. I was a little bit soft and when you let up there, it becomes harder to push that last 50.” 

Men’s 200m Breaststroke – FINAL 
BRONZE – Matt Fallon (Warren, N.J./Athens Bulldog Swim Club/University of Pennsylvania), 2:07.74 
Eighth – Josh Matheny (Pittsburgh, Pa./Indiana Swim Club/Indiana University), 2:10.41 

Fallon on his performance: “I’m very happy with that swim. Going into the race, my goal was the podium. Even though I didn’t feel the best in that race, I’m grateful I was able to get it done for Team USA.” 

Men’s 4x200m Freestyle – FINAL 
SILVER – USA, 7:00.02 
   Luke Hobson (Reno, Nev./Lakeridge Swim Team/University of Texas), 1:46.00 
   Carson Foster (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mason Manta Rays), 1:44.49 
   Jake Mitchell (Carmel, Ind./University of Florida), 1:45.06 
   Kieran Smith (Ridgefield, Conn./Ridgefield Aquatic Club), 1:44.47 

With the U.S. earning silver, prelim swimmers Drew Kibler, Baylor Nelson and Henry McFadden also receive medals. 

Smith on the race: “We never lose sight of winning a gold medal, fighting as hard as we can. My performance wasn’t up to my standard in the 200 freestyle. I told (the guys) I wouldn’t let them down here. We fought hard. We swam faster today than we did last year to win gold. That’s a good performance.” 

Women’s 100m Freestyle – FINAL 
Fourth – Kate Douglass (Pelham, N.Y./New York Athletic Club), 52.81 
Sixth – Abbey Weitzeil (Santa Clarita, Calif./California Aquatics), 53.34 

Men’s 100m Butterfly – SEMIFINAL 
First – Dare Rose (Jersey City, N.J/California Aquatics), 50.53* 
*Personal best 
The final will be contested on Saturday, July 29. 

Women’s 200m Backstroke – SEMIFINAL 
Second – Regan Smith (Lakeville, Minn./Sun Devil Swimming), 2:07.52 
Seventh – Rhyan White (Herriman, Utah/Wasatch Front Fish Market/Wolfpack Elite), 2:09.13 
The final will be contested on Saturday, July 29. 

Men’s 50m Freestyle – SEMIFINAL 
Second – Jack Alexy (Mendham, N.J./California Aquatics), 21.60* 
T-Ninth – Ryan Held (Springfield, Ill./New York Athletic Club), 21.91 
*Personal best 
After the eighth-place semifinalist withdrew from the final, Held won a swim-off for the eighth spot in the final. 
The final will be contested on Saturday, July 29. 

Women’s 50m Butterfly – SEMIFINAL 
Third – Gretchen Walsh (Nashville, Tenn./Nashville Aquatic Club/University of Virginia), 25.48 
Seventh – Torri Huske (Arlington, Va./Arlington Aquatic Club), 25.75 
The final will be contested on Saturday, July 29. 

Women’s 800m Freestyle – PRELIM 
First – Katie Ledecky (Bethesda, Md./Gator Swim Club), 8:15.60 
Eighth – Jillian Cox (Cedar Park, Texas/Longhorn Aquatics), 8:22.20 
The final will be contested on Saturday, July 29. 

Men’s 100m Butterfly – PRELIM 
17th – Thomas Heilman (Crozet, Va./Cavalier Aquatics/Piedmont Family YMCA), 51.77 
Heilman clocked a time of 51.66 and finished second in a swim-off, missing out on the final spot in the semifinals. 

Competition continues Saturday, July 29 with prelims at 10:30 a.m. and finals at 8 p.m. local time. In the U.S., prelims are Friday, July 28 at 9:30 p.m. ET with finals at 7 a.m. ET on Saturday, July 29.