Gretchen Walsh smashes 100m butterfly World Record to open U.S. Olympic Trials in Indianapolis

Anticipation buzzed around the 2024 United States Olympic Swimming Trials that began on Saturday in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League.

The stadium has hosted prestigious events such as the Super Bowl and the Taylor Swift Reputation Tour and is now hosting over 1,000 of the best American swimmers in their pursuits of making the 2024 Olympic team for Paris in six weeks.

On Saturday night in front of a massive crowd of over 20,689, a record for swimming in the United States, Gretchen Walsh broke the first world record of the meet in the 100m butterfly - blasting 55.18 to lower the previous record by three tenths. Walsh’s swim took Sarah Sjostrom’s 55.48 from the 2016 Rio Olympics off the record books.

It was predicted before the meet that the record had potential to fall by the way of either Walsh or 2022 World champion Torri Huske. In the semi-finals of the 100m butterfly, which opened up Saturday night’s finals session, Huske claimed the first semi in 55.79, just off her 55.68 from earlier this year. Walsh responded in the next heat with a 25.45 on the first 50 meters, coming home in 29.73 to become the first American to hold the record since Dana Vollmer became the first inside 56 seconds back in 2012.

“I think there has been a little bit of buzz around being close to the world record,” Walsh told reporters on Saturday evening in Indianapolis. “A lot of people have been close to it recently. Going into tonight, I knew it would take a 0.5 drop, (to get the world record) but I didn’t think I’d do it tonight. I just knew I wanted to go a best time and now here I am - a world record holder. It’s actually insane.”

Walsh’s name had been generating a lot of buzz this year based on what she did in short course yards in her junior season at the University of Virginia while swimming for coach Todd DeSorbo. She swam the fastest 100 yard butterfly in March in 47 seconds, quicker than defending Olympic champion Maggie Mac Neil did in her college career. It was fast, but it wasn’t in long course, something that was looming over her coming into this meet.

Tonight, though, she answered the critics and proved her short course prowess could translate to long course meters.

The job isn’t done yet for Walsh, who has a chance to make her first Olympic team for Paris in tomorrow’s final. She will line up alongside Huske and Regan Smith (55.92), who are each going for their second Olympic teams in what is expected to be a fast race.

Claire Curzan, who was second at the 2021 Olympic Trials in this event, is seeded fourth for tomorrow at 57.24 after the scratch of Alex Shackell, who saw her brother Aaron qualify for the team in the 400m freestyle on Saturday.

Walsh is competing in her third Olympic Trials at age 21, and is in the driver’s seat to make her first Olympic team tomorrow night.

“I’m trying to keep my emotions controlled,” Walsh said about re-setting for tomorrow. “I’m going to put my phone down tonight and just let it be, and hopefully get a good night’s rest. I warmed down and stuck to my recovery routine so I’m hoping tomorrow night I can get a spot on the team because that’s really what I came here to do.”

Walsh was a favourite to make a relay spot at the last Trials three years ago but was 28th in the prelims of the 100m freestyle and fifth in the final of the 50m.

Although Walsh has yet to make the team in 2024, she is in a good place, mentally after this swim.

“Tomorrow night I am going to be at peace with the fact I have already accomplished so much at this meet more than I ever thought I would,” Walsh said. “If I just swim the race exactly like I know how and exactly like I did tonight then I will be on the team and I will get that goal too. I definitely feel comfortable and confident I am capable of doing that and I am looking forward to it.”

Contributing: Gregory Eggert