Gretchen Walsh on Saturday shattered the 100m butterfly world record in the semi-finals of the US Olympic trials, where freestyle great Katie Ledecky punched her ticket to a fourth Olympics.
Walsh, coming off a record-setting collegiate season for the University of Virginia, clocked 55.18 seconds to eclipse the previous record of 55.48 seconds set by Sweden’s Sarah Sjoestroem at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
The 21-year-old is trying to make her first Olympic team after winning medley relay gold along with freestyle relay silver and 50m butterfly bronze at the last year’s World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.
Photo: AFP
She electrified the crowd of more than 20,000 at Lucas Oil Arena, home of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, in the first event of the opening finals session at the nine-day meeting — where only the top two finishers in each event can qualify for the Paris Games.
US record-holder Torri Huske had made a run at Sjoestroem’s mark in the first semi-final, hitting 50m under the world record pace before finishing in 55.79 seconds.
Walsh, who had never broken 56 seconds until she posted 55.94 in the heats on Saturday morning, then roared through the second semi-final, staring at the scoreboard in disbelief as the time flashed up.
Photo: AP
“It’s such a surreal experience,” said Walsh, who emphatically shed her reputation as a short-course specialist.
“I don’t know when I’m going to be thinking I just did that. I’m trying to convince myself that just happened — I’m just in awe,” she said.
“I’m ready for tomorrow night,” added Walsh, who has her sights on securing her place in the team for Paris in Sunday’s final in a field that includes Tokyo Olympic medalist Regan Smith, who was third-fastest in the semis in 55.92 seconds.
Meanwhile seven-time Olympic gold medalist Ledecky, who burst onto the international scene as a 15-year-old with her victory in the 800m freestyle at the 2012 London Olympics, is Paris bound after winning the 400m freestyle in three minutes, 58.35 seconds.
Paige Madden, a finalist in Tokyo, was second in four minutes, 2.08 seconds.
Ledecky’s time was her fastest since 2022. Even though she is still the world’s dominant force in the 800m and 1500m freestyle, the 27-year-old is to arrive in Paris chasing Australian world record-holder Ariarne Titmus and Canada’s Summer McIntosh in the 400m freestyle.
Ledecky counts six individual victories among her seven Olympic golds — more than any other female swimmer.
With two more golds she can surpass compatriot Jenny Thompson for most total Olympic gold medals including relays.
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