Gretchen Walsh Breaks 16-Year-Old World Cup Record & U.S. Open Record in 50 Fly with 24.13

2025 SWIMMING WORLD CUP – CARMEL

• October 10-12, 2025
• Carmel, Indiana
• SCM (25 meters)
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  • Prelims: Day 1 | Day 2
  • Finals: Day 1

Women’s 50 Butterfly — Prelims

• World Record: 23.94 — Gretchen Walsh, United States (2024)
• World Junior Record: 24.55 — Claire Curzan, United States (2021)
• World Cup Record: 24.38 — Therese Alshammar, Sweden (2009)
• U.S. Open Record: 24.81 — Beryl Gastaldello, France (2019)

Top 8:

1. Gretchen Walsh (USA) — 24.13 *World Cup and U.S. Open Record*
2. Alexandria Perkins (AUS) — 24.79
3. Alex Shackell (CLB) — 25.51
4. Charlotte Crush (CLB) — 25.57
5. Kasia Wasick (POL) — 25.65
6. Vanessa Hazel Ouwehand (NZL) — 25.66
7. Leah Shackley (CLB) — 26.02
8. Roos Vanotterdijk (BEL) — 26.09

American superstar Gretchen Walsh posted a stunning performance in the women’s 50 fly during the prelims in Carmel, taking down two records with one swim.

Walsh broke the World Cup record in the event, throwing down a time of 24.13 to shave .25 off of the previous standard. The record formerly stood at 24.38, set by Sweden’s Therese Alshammar back in 2009.

Walsh’s performance also set a new U.S. Open record, taking the title just minutes after Australia’s Alexandria Perkins broke the same record in the heat before Walsh.

Prior to the start of this morning’s heats, the U.S. Open record belonged to Beryl Gastaldello of France, who swam a time of 24.81 in 2019. Perkins turned in a time of 24.79 to shave a narrow .02 off the record, only for Walsh to come along and smash that time with her 24.13, which was .66 faster than Perkins.

The 50 fly is one of Walsh’s most dominant races. She holds the world record in the short course meters 50 fly and became the first woman to ever break 24 seconds in the event thanks to her performance at the 2024 Short Course World Championships in December, when she clocked a 23.94.

Her swim today marked the fourth-fastest time in history in this event, with the other three fastest times all being held by Walsh as well.

All-Time Top 5 Performances, Women’s 50 Fly SCM

1. 23.94 – Gretchen Walsh (2024)
2. 24.01 – Gretchen Walsh (2024)
3. 24.02 – Gretchen Walsh (2024)
4. 24.13 – Gretchen Walsh (2025)
5. 24.38 – Therese Alshammar (2009)

Walsh’s record-breaking performance this morning handed her her third and fourth records of the meet, as she already broke two on day one. She won the 100 IM last night in 55.91, again setting the World Cup and U.S. Open records.

Walsh has one more event on her lineup for the weekend; she is the top seed in the 100 fly which will take place tomorrow.