Once again, Gretchen Walsh.
For the fourth time individually and fifth time overall this week, the 21-year-old has shattered a world record. This time it was the 100 fly on the chopping block. Walsh became the first woman under 54, clocking an egregious 53.24.
This undercuts the old world record, set by Maggie Mac Neil at the 2022 World Championships (54.05), by .81. This is a 1.5% time cut in her first time officially swimming the event in SCM.
Split Comparisons
| Walsh, 2024 Worlds Prelims | Macneil, 2022 Worlds Finals |
| 24.55 | 25.78 |
| 53.24(28.69) | 54.05(28.27) |
Walsh used her signature front-end speed to reset the record, going out in a jaw-dropping 24.55. This split would have landed her a bronze medal in the individual 50 fly two nights ago, behind only herself (24.01) and Beryl Gastadello (24.43). The split would also put her in 7th in all-time 50 fly performers with herself also at #1 (23.94).
All-Time Performers, Women’s SCM 100 fly
- Gretchen Walsh, USA – 53.24 (2024)
- Maggie Mac Neil, CAN – 54.05 (2022)
- Kelsi Dahlia, USA – 54.59 (2021)
- Sarah Sjostrom, SWE – 54.61 (2014)
- Torri Huske, USA – 54.75 (2022)
- Louise Hansson, SWE – 54.87 (2022)
- Diane Bui Duyet, FRA – 55.05 (2009)
- Jeanette Ottesen, DEN – 55.10 (2015)
- Katinka Hosszu, HUN – 55.12 (2016)
- Ling Yu, CHN – 55.25 (2014)
With this swim, Walsh completes the fastest-ever trinity in the 100 fly. She already holds the long course world record (55.18) and the fastest time ever in yards (47.35).
She will presumably have two more chances at lowering the record in the semifinals tonight and the finals tomorrow night.
Stunning swim, and long overdue, this was a soft WR on the womens side for a very long time before Maggie. Congratulations!
Sidenote, is there anybody with a gulf between their LC & SC ability as large as Diane Bui Duyet? One time WR holder SCM, and unable to crack the top 200 all-time in the same event LCM… Wild.
and she’s not a swimmer who goes 100% in prelims. 52 is not out of the question
The top ten performers list having a time two seconds slower than the new record on it is wild
She’s good.
I remember that people’s minds were blown when Maggie blew Kelsi’s WR away by about 0.5 and then…this.
I wish there were more really elite SCM meets!
Not too long ago people were questioning her ability to swim anything other than SCY.
Totally makes prelims a thing.
The insane thing is she’s demolishing records held by elite short course swimmers.