Gretchen Walsh put forth the most dominant foot she could in this Olympic year, crushing the women’s world record in the 100-meter butterfly Saturday at the U.S. Olympic Trials.
And she did it in the event’s semifinal round.
With a time of 55.18 seconds, she broke Swedish sprinter Sarah Sjöström’s record of 55.48, which was set in a gold-medal effort at the 2016 Olympics.
Gretchen Walsh destroys the world record in women’s 100m fly at U.S. Olympic Swim Trials with a time of 55.18 seconds 🏊♀️
🎥 @NBCOlympicspic.twitter.com/wO1V6JJjO1
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) June 16, 2024
Competing in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium, Walsh beat the times of Torri Huske and Regan Smith in her record-breaking performance. It was the first world record set the U.S. Olympic trials since Michael Phelps in 2008.
“I didn’t think I was going to do it today. I just knew that I wanted to go that time and now here I am, the world record-holder. It’s, like, actually insane,” Walsh said. “I think I was probably the most shocked out of people I know.”
Walsh, 21, will need a similarly dominant performance in Sunday’s final round to ward off Huske — the former American record holder — and Smith to secure her spot on the 2024 Olympic team. If Walsh does so, she will…
