Gretchen Walsh Blasts World Record in 100 Butterfly

FLASH! Gretchen Walsh Blasts World Record in 100 Butterfly; Goes 54.33 at Fort Lauderdale Open

Gretchen Walsh has developed a forumula for racing in Fort Lauderdale. Basically, racing within the South Florida metropolis equates to world-record performances.

One 12 months after the Team USA star established a world report within the 100-meter butterfly throughout TYR Pro Series motion, Walsh was even higher with the meet named the Fort Lauderdale Open. On Saturday night time, Walsh registered a time of 54.33, an effort that simply bettered the 54.60 she managed final May. The efficiency marked the fourth time wherein Walsh has damaged the 55-second barrier, an achievement solely she is aware of.

In what was a race towards the clock, Walsh went out in 25.09 and got here residence in 29.24 to set the newest world report of her profession. The front-end pace displayed by the University of Virginia product was downright gorgeous, as solely 4 ladies – Sarah Sjostrom, Walsh, Zhang Yufei and Therese Alshammar – have been that quick within the 50 fly. But Walsh was additionally sensational on the again finish of her race, which allowed the Team USA standout to wipe greater than a quarter-second from her prior international customary.

The silver medalist within the occasion on the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and the reigning world champion, Walsh now owns the 13-fastest instances within the historical past of the 100 butterfly. As spectacular, Walsh is now greater than a second sooner than the No. 2 performer of all-time, Sjostrom. The Swedish star sits second in historical past, however her finest time of 55.48 is 1.15 seconds adrift of what Walsh delivered on the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center.

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