INDIANAPOLIS – Gretchen Walsh announced herself as the breakout star of the 2024 Olympics before she had even qualified.
Walsh broke the world record in the women’s 100 meter butterfly semi-finals here on Saturday evening, the opening night of American trials.
Her 55.18 beat Swedish sprinter Sarah Sjöström’s 55.48, which was the best mark ever since the 2016 Olympics.
According to NBC, it was the first time a world record has been broken at the US Olympic Trials since Michael Phelps set a new record in the 200 individual medley in 2008 in the US.
Walsh, a University of Virginia star who wrote and rewrote NCAA record books last season, will try to make her first Olympic team on Sunday night. And despite the world record, she’s not a lock; Torri Huske, the previous American record holder, and Regan Smith, a 2021 Olympic medalist, will push her into the two spots.
Huske was also under the world record pace in the 50 meters in Saturday’s first semi-final; she finished in 55.79. Smith went 55.92.
