Gretchen Walsh Clocks 55.94 100 Fly, Becomes Sixth-Fastest Performer Of All-Time

2024 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS

DAY 1 PRELIMS HEAT SHEET

Long course Gretchen Walsh has arrived.

In the preliminary heats of the women’s 100 butterfly at the 2024 U.S. Olympic trials, Walsh clocked a time of 55.94 to take the top overall seed. She improved 0.2 seconds from her previous personal best of 56.14, which was set at the San Antonio Pro Swim Series this April. She also becomes the sixth-fastest performer of all-time, the second-fastest American of all-time, and the seventh woman in history to go under 56 seconds in the event.

All-Time Top Performers, Women’s 100 Butterfly:

  1. Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden — 55.48 (2016)
  2. Maggie MacNeil, Canada — 55.59 (2021)
  3. Zhang Yufei, China — 55.62 (2020)
  4. Torri Huske, United States — 55.64 (2022)
  5. Emma McKeon, Australia — 55.72 (2021)
  6. Gretchen Walsh, United States — 55.94 (2024)

The key to Walsh’s improvements have been on the back half. She swam 0.38 seconds slower than in April going out, but was 0.58 seconds faster coming back.

Split Comparison:

Gretchen Walsh, 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Gretchen Walsh, 2024 San Antonio Pro Series
50m 26.22 25.84
100m 29.72 30.30
Final 55.94 56.14

Walsh swam the 100 fly at the 2023 World Championships, finishing eighth overall. However, her time from Saturday indicates that she could be in medal contention this year if she ends up replicating her time at the Paris Olympics.

Headed into trials, Walsh was coming off a historic NCAA season where she broke four NCAA records in four individual events. If her performance Saturday is any indication, she might be able to translate her short course success into long course just fine.

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mike
3 days ago

now she went 55.18, good job jeff

jeff
Reply to  mike
3 days ago

she averaged a 55.56 across the two swims so call me a psychic or something

Viking Steve
3 days ago

You would have thought all of the ‘bathtub haters’ would have learned with Alex Walsh and KD…. you would have thought….

jeff
4 days ago

I had a dream several weeks ago that she went 55.57

RealCrocker5040
4 days ago

Gretchen is in the cusp of a Dressel-esque Budapest 2017 LCM breakout and I could not be happier about it

We need her

richteller
4 days ago

It;s ok for Aussies (whom I generally like) to talk a little smack. They’re consistently great and it’s a pride thing.. But I take the “bathtub” shots as silly insults. So here’s a US “bathtubber” who isn’t specialized training all year in LCM who just swam the 6th fastest time ever. And Huske is in that group too, both very young. Let me re-emphasize – 4th and 6th fastest of all time, not this year or last year … and those times are more recent, bath tubs be damned. Gretchen, frankly, has a lot more ceiling yet to go.

Jalen T
4 days ago

Still not going to medal….. not better than Chinese swimmers or sarah

Wanna Sprite?
Reply to  Jalen T
4 days ago

W rage bait

Steve Nolan
Reply to  Jalen T
4 days ago

Lol Sarah

Boknows34
Reply to  Jalen T
4 days ago

Sarah ain’t swimming 100 fly.

VA Steve
Reply to  Jalen T
4 days ago

lol. That will age well.

Jack
Reply to  Jalen T
4 days ago

If we made those calls off of prelims swims at Olympic Trials, then you wouldnt expect Phelps to win any golds in Beijing.

I don’t know how good Gretchen will be in long course this summer. But her performance in semis and finals will be the indicator.

Swimfan
Reply to  Jalen T
4 days ago

I thought Sarah dropped the 100 fly off her Olympic program?

Excalibur
Reply to  Jalen T
3 days ago

Trolling won’t get u anywhere

richteller
Reply to  Jalen T
3 days ago

Gretchen says “hi”

And she’s nicer than you are, a low bar, but still

Notanyswimmer
4 days ago

Nice but could we still abolish bathtub swimming?

Facts
4 days ago

Huge USA has a legit shot to go 1-2 in this event at Paris

About Yanyan Li

Yanyan Li

Although Yanyan wasn't the greatest competitive swimmer, she learned more about the sport of swimming by being her high school swim team's manager for four years. She eventually ventured into the realm of writing and joined SwimSwam in January 2022, where she hopes to contribute to and learn more about …

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