2025 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Tuesday, June 3 – Saturday, June 7, 2025
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Indiana University Natatorium
- LCM (50 meters)
- World Championship Selection Criteria
- SwimSwam Preview Index
- Meet Central
- Psych Sheets (Updated 6/02)
- Live Results
- How To Watch (USA Swimming Network)
- Prelims Live Recap:Â Day 1Â |Â Day 2
- Finals Live Recap:Â Day 1Â |Â Day 2
- 24.43 — Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden), 2014
- 24.93 — Gretchen Walsh (USA), 2025*
- 25.05 — Zhang Yufei (China), 2023
- 25.07 — Therese Alshammar (Sweden), 2009
- 25.11 — Rikako Ikee (Japan), 2018
- 25.17 — Melanie Henique (France), 2021
- 25.20 — Francesca Halsall (Great Britain), 2014
- 25.24 — Jeanette Ottesen (Denmark), 2013
- 25.24 — Ranomi Kromowidjojo (Netherlands), 2021
- 25.28 — Marleen Veldhuis (Netherlands), 2009
Updated Top 5 All-Time Rankings, Women’s LCM 50 Butterfly:
- Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden) 24.43, 2014
- Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 24.66, 2025*
- Zhang Yufei (China) – 25.05, 2023
- Therese Alshammar (Sweden) – 25.07, 2009
- Rikako Ikee (Japan) – 25.11, 2018
In addition to her historic 50 fly performance tonight, the Todd DeSorbo–coached star made headlines yesterday as well, becoming the fifth-fastest American woman in history in the 100 free with a time of 52.78. She touched 2nd in that race to qualify for the World Championship team there, too.
Walsh, already moving through Trials with two qualifications under her belt, is the heavy favorite for gold in the 50 fly and a strong medal contender in the aforementioned 100 free. She’ll take on the 100 fly tomorrow, where she’ll have a chance to break the world record in that event for the fourth time in her career—and the third time this season. Keep an eye on her 54.60 mark in that race. She’ll close out her meet on Saturday with the 50 free, where she may challenge the 24-second barrier and take aim at Kate Douglass’ American record of 23.91.
Walsh’s big breakout on the long course international stage began at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, where she opened with the previous world record in the 100 fly. She also qualified in the 50 and 100 free events. At the Paris Games, she claimed silver in the 100 fly (55.63, behind Huske), finished 4th in the 50 free (24.21), and touched 8th in the 100 free (53.04). She also earned three relay medals: two golds in the women’s 4×100 medley and mixed 4×100 medley relays, and one silver in the 4×100 free relay.
Outside of the long course pool, Walsh has firmly established herself as the top short course swimmer on the planet. While her dominance in short course yards was already evident during her standout career at the University of Virginia, she finally had the opportunity to showcase that ability in short course meters last year—and did so in spectacular fashion.
She exploded at the Short Course World Championships this past December. There, she earned seven gold medals, set 11 world records across six different events (including two relays), and rewrote the record books in the 50 free (22.83), 50 fly (23.94), 100 fly (52.71), and 100 IM (55.11). She also posted the second-fastest time ever in the 100 free at 50.31.
Race Video
Courtesy of NBC SportsÂ
I think KD has a 25.2 in her. Who knows on Gretchen?!
Sjostrom, ur done.
she will be about 32 when she gives birth to her first child later in the summer.
She said in an interview published yesterday to she would like to make a 6th Olympic games and beyond that it will be how she feels and how her body responds to training and other things after the pregnancy, but she would like to keep practicing because she feels better when she is active.
I would take caution with that type of word. While she will be older, she was still swimming 100 free not long ago. I think she will be capable of faster times, given that she will be training only for the 50 fly and free. Nowadays, 33-34 years old is not what we can call very old(for a pure sprinter).
She won Olympic gold medals in 3 individual events, she won Olympic medals in 4 individual events.
She won countless World Championship meals (LCM)
She broke WR in 4 individual events (LCM)
Even if she’s done (she’s not), she’s already among the greatest swimmers ever
You never know – I’m a big Gretchen/UVA fan, but Sjostrom is a RIDICULOUSLY talented sprinter, and look what Dara Torres did in her 30s and 40s and after pregnancy. Hopefully the two of them can push each other and push the sport forward for years to come.
Phenomenal!
It’s just a matter of time before the World Record in the W 50 FL goes down with more experience swimming in the 50 meter pool.
This is for sure a battle between Walsh and Sjostrom for gold at LA
0.23 is a still a long way off in a 50, just ask Ben Proud
Gretchen just dropped 0.27 with that swim, a month since her Fort Lauderdale AR
Gretchen Walsh is 22 years old not 32 years old.
Since when is Ben Proud a World Record holder, short course or long course?
54.12 tomorrow
53 watch
That would be wild, I wouldn’t put it past her though. 53.99 would be cool