Gretchen Walsh Breaks Kate Douglass’ Week-Old 50 Free World Record With 23.55

67th SETTE COLLI TROPHY 

WOMEN’S 50 FREE – FINAL

  • World Record – 23.59, Kate Douglass (USA), 2026
  • World Junior Record – 24.17, Claire Curzan (USA), 2021
  • European Record – 23.61, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2023
  • European Junior Record – 24.56, Sara Curtis (ITA), 2024
  • Italian Record – 24.29, Sara Curtis, 2026
  • Meet Record – 23.75, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2024

GOLD – Gretchen Walsh (USA), 23.55 *World Record*
SILVER  – Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 23.86
BRONZE – Sara Curtis (ITA), 24.09 *Italian Record*

Gretchen Walsh has set a new World Record in the 50 freestyle, touching in a 23.55 in Rome. That breaks the previous record of a 23.59 set just nine days ago by Kate Douglass at the Indianapolis Pro Series stop.

Walsh touched a 23.78 for 2nd behind Douglass in the 50 free nine days ago in Indianapolis, which was a new lifetime best by 0.13 seconds as Walsh entered June with a lifetime best and a share of the American Record with Douglass as the two had previous best times of a 23.91.

The two are training partners at Virginia, and Douglass’ reaction to Walsh breaking her record was “was fun while it lasted 🤝 @gretchwalsh2” on her Instagram story.

All-Time Top Performances, Women’s LCM 50 Free

  1. Gretchen Walsh, 23.55, 2026
  2. Kate Douglass, 23.59, 2026
  3. Sarah Sjostrom, 23.61, 2023
  4. Sarah Sjostrom, 23.62, 2023
  5. Sarah Sjostrom, 23.66, 2024
  6. Sarah Sjostrom, 23.67, 2017

Coming into June, both Douglass and Walsh’s old American Record of a 23.91 sat outside of the top 25 performances all-time. The two now sit as the fastest in the event ever with Walsh’s new record today sitting at the top of history.

The 50 free marks Walsh’s 2nd individual LCM World Record as she also holds the record in the 100 fly with a 54.33. She also is a member of the USA women’s 4×100 medley relay that holds the World Record.

With Walsh’s World Record, it also marks the 100th time that swimmers training out of Virginia have broken an American Record in the last five seasons.

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manoj ghimire
18 days ago

I think my comment is removed

SwimstowinXXXY
19 days ago

They are both truly extraordinary people

Viking Steve
19 days ago

Don’t sleep on Kate taking the record back… she will not go quietly into the night….

Which is good for GW… they need to continue to push each other

Michael Scoff
19 days ago

Pop and Pan in Romania, training together

Greg17815
19 days ago

Thank god we didn’t have Rowdy saying she had a slow start.. That sh*t can’t be put to bed fast enough. She’s got to be the fastest to 15 meters in history. That *checks notes* IS the start.

Her reaction time is right up there with everyone else’s, it just takes slightly more time to get her super tall body physically off the blocks.

Eduardo
19 days ago

Maybe training with Dressel made her freestyle fast?

This Guy
Reply to  Eduardo
19 days ago

Her stroke does look a little more aggressive, if that makes sense. Looks more powerful from her hand entry through the first half of her pull. Slight stroke adjustment but really allows her to carry her momentum stroke to stroke a bit better. Really looks great for her technique and style

dg5301
Reply to  This Guy
19 days ago

In the interview she mentioned that she’s been focusing on maintaining her kick intensity, which she thought may have been an issue in the past.

phelps swims 200 breast rio
19 days ago

I think she’ll eventually break 51.

McIntosh-Marchand
Reply to  phelps swims 200 breast rio
19 days ago

Obviously

CavaDore
19 days ago

Next week, Anna Moesch will break it. 😂

manoj ghimire
Reply to  CavaDore
19 days ago

In which meet?

Nj swimmer
Reply to  manoj ghimire
19 days ago

Pull a schooling and do it in practice

About Anya Pelshaw

Anya Pelshaw

Anya has been with SwimSwam since June 2021 as both a writer and social media coordinator. She was in attendance at the 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 Women's NCAA Championships writing and doing social media for SwimSwam. She also attended 2023 US Summer Nationals as well as the 2024 …

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