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.
Already 4 WRs, and would be 7 if not for her 24.01, 50.31, 56.06! Definitely swimmer of the meet, and probably greatest SCM swimmer of all time?
We need her to swim the 50 and 100 Back soon!
This was a superb swim – – I don’t think it was egregious. Walsh best short course woman swimmer ever?
Short Course female sprinter. We have 140+ years of swimming to compare with.
Her SCY 47.6 converts to 52.8 in SCM. I believe that short course to short course conversions are usually pretty accurate.
Um yes. It’s almost like it’s a straight mathematical conversion.
Not surprised in the least that Gretchen broke another WR and literally blew Maggie’s old record right out of the water.
She’s swimming at such an incredibly high level right now.
How fast is her fly split gonna be on the medley relays? Could be faster than some free splits
boy what the hell boy
Her underwater technique should be taught in school curriculum
Not many others are that lanky and double jointed. Almost impossible for 99% to replicate
I think it’s mostly her physique tbh. Lots of athletes with similar technique but much less fast twitching muscles and less flexible ankles.
Her incredible physiology & Height must also play in those incredible underwater prowess
I’ve been involved in swimming for 40 years and I’ve never seen anything like it. Absolutely incredible.
Even though I agree with the others that it would be hard for anyone to replicate what she does, I’d love to see her in one of Gary Hall’s Race Club breakdown videos. The one they did with Maggie MacNeil was fantastic, and it would be so cool to compare them to see what works best for people with different body types.
Here’s the one with Maggie:
https://youtu.be/Y7JcY6YzUxE?si=2fY1_RWn3M2-nQNI
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.
crazy what those rubber suits can do.
Bui Duyet just had insane undies