Sarah Sjostrom Responds to Gretchen Walsh’s 55.18 on Social Media in a Heartfelt Message

2024 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS

WOMEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY – SEMI-FINALS

  • World Record: 55.48, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 2016 Olympic Games
  • American Record: 55.64, Torri Huske – 2022 World Championships
  • U.S. Open Record: 55.66, Torri Huske (USA) – 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials
  • World Junior Record: 56.20, Claire Curzan (USA) – 2021 TAC Titans Premier Invitational
  • 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion: Torri Huske, 55.66
  • 2024 Olympic Qualifying Time: 57.92

Finals Qualifiers: 

  1. Gretchen Walsh (NAC), 55.18 WR
  2. Torri Huske (AAC), 55.79
  3. Regan Smith (TXLA), 55.92
  4. Alex Shackell (CSC), 56.78
  5. Claire Curzan (TAC), 57.24
  6. Emma Sticklen (TXLA), 57.77
  7. Beata Nelson (UN-WI), 57.80
  8. Kelly Pash (TXLA), 57.97

Response to Gretchen Walsh‘s earth-shattering new World Record swim has been pouring in, including from some of the greatest swimmers in the world. While her nearest competitors surrounded the UVA athlete in the pool, the electronic support has been just as resounding. Walsh, who lowered the WR by three-tenths of a second, said after the race that she “…was probably the most shocked out of the people I know

Also, in that interview, in response to the question, “How does it feel to break a world record held by Sarah Sjostrom?” Walsh responded by saying

It’s insane. I mean, she’s an amazing athlete and swimmer and role model for me, so to even be, like, in the same sentence as her is insane already, so it’s truly a dream come true. 

The former World Record holder, who held the record from 2009 to 2012 and then took it back from Dana Vollmer in 2015 posted on Instagram the following message.

Sjostrom also responded to fans who were hopeful that Sjostrom would re-take the record at some point in the future with a playful message: “That ain’t gonna happen”.

Since placing 7th in the 100 fly at the 2020 Toky Olympics, Sjostrom has moved away from the event in international competition and put more emphasis on the 50 free and 50 fly, of which she holds the world record in both.

Sjostrom and Walsh squared off three times last summer. In the 50 free and 50 fly individually as well as in the women’s 4×100 free relay. The Swede got the best of Walsh in all of the races, as she both the 50s and outsplit Walsh in the relay by 1.82 seconds. The pair occupied the podium together in the 50 fly, as Walsh won the bronze medal .69 seconds behind the World Record holder, Sjostrom.

Former American and World Record Holder Dana Vollmer appeared to be in the pool as a screenshot of her Instagram story, shows her filming the swim.

One of her UVA coaches, Tyler Fenwick, posted a funny message tying her results to the Lucas Oil Stadium venue.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Tyler Fenwick (@uvacoachfenwick)

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Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
9 days ago

During the current century, the Mount Rushmore of women’s swimming:

World Aquatics Championships
Individual medalists
Hosszu – 9 G, 1 S, 5 B
Ledecky – 16 G, 3 S, 0 B
Sjostrom – 14 G, 6 S, 3 B

ScovaNotiaSwimmer
9 days ago

Sarah is the coolest swimmer in the world.

Snarky
9 days ago

Funny that Gretchen was shocked. Those who have seen her swim over the years have always known this was likely to happen. Fantastic!

Last edited 9 days ago by Snarky
Jonathan
9 days ago

At this point I’m not willing to put a ceiling (or a floor) on what Gretchen Walsh could do internationally in long course.

Kudzai Makova
9 days ago

Sarah is a class act. Hope she gets that individual Olympic gold in the 50 freestyle. And Gretchen hopefully can go 54.99 in the Paris Olympics final should she make the team tonight

Jonathan
9 days ago

Sarah Sjostrom always a class act. How can you not love her?

commonwombat
9 days ago

Class transcends any such barriers as language and nationality and Sarah Sjostrom has always demonstrated this both in and out of the pool.

hegetsitdoneagain
9 days ago

50 free is gonna come down to sarah and gretchen imo – slight edge to sarah for the OG at this time – but this is a dream matchup now with Gretchen finally breaking through in LCM and challenging (imo) the womens sprint goat