Gretchen Walsh made history on Saturday night by breaking the world record in the women’s 100-meter butterfly at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials in Indianapolis. She clocked in at 55.18 seconds in a semifinal heat, surpassing the previous record of 55.48 seconds held by Sweden’s Sarah Sjöström from the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Walsh, a 21-year-old from Nashville, Tennessee who swims for the University of Virginia, still has to secure a spot on her first Olympic team. In the final on Sunday night, she will be up against tough competition from the likes of Torri Huske, Regan Smith, and Claire Curzan, all of whom are medalists from the Tokyo Games.
Despite her record-breaking performance, Walsh believes she can go even faster in the 100-meter butterfly. She remained focused on improving her time and securing her place on the Olympic team. The buzz surrounding her phenomenal swim is a testament to her talent and determination to succeed at the highest level.
