If you watch enough swimming, you get used to the "line." That little yellow graphic on the TV screen that shows where the world record pace is. Usually, it’s a game of inches. A finger tip ahead, a chin behind. But when Gretchen Walsh dove into the pool at Lucas Oil Stadium for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, she didn't just beat the line. She essentially left it in another zip code.
She clocked a 55.18 in the semifinals of the 100-meter butterfly. To put that in perspective, she erased Sarah Sjöström’s legendary mark of 55.48, which had stood since the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Sjöström is basically the Zeus of butterfly. People didn't just think her record was safe; they thought it was a "forever" time. Then Walsh happened.
The Night Everything Changed in Indianapolis
Honestly, most people expected a fast race, but nobody—literally nobody—predicted a world record in a semifinal. Usually, swimmers hold a little back for the final. Not Gretchen. She came off the blocks with a reaction time that looked like she’d been shot out of a cannon.
The most "insane" part (her words, not mine) was the underwater work. If you’ve ever seen her swim in person, it’s kinda terrifying how long she stays down. She pushed the 15-meter limit to the absolute brink. While the rest of the field was gasping for air and churning the surface, Walsh was still five feet deep, dolphin-kicking with the efficiency of a shark.
Breaking Down the 55.18 Split
Most world records are built on the "back half"—the second 50 meters where everyone else dies and the champion survives. Walsh flipped the script.
- Opening 50m: 25.45 seconds.
- Closing 50m: 29.73 seconds.
That opening speed is faster than most people’s "all-out" 50m sprint. It’s a high-risk, high-reward strategy. If you go out that fast and your legs give up at the 75-meter mark, you don't just lose; you "piano" (which is swimmer-speak for hitting a wall so hard it feels like a grand piano fell on your back). She didn't piano. She just kept going.
Is It Just Genetics?
You’ll hear a lot of commentators talk about her "weird knees." It sounds like an insult, but in the swimming world, it’s the ultimate compliment. Walsh has significant hyperextension in her knees and elbows.
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When she kicks, her legs can undulate in a "C" shape that most humans simply can't replicate without a trip to the ER. This allows her to displace a massive volume of water with every single flick of her ankles. Combined with a 6-foot-1 frame and a wingspan that would make an albatross jealous (it’s about 6-foot-4), she has the perfect physical "blueprint" for butterfly.
But let’s be real. Plenty of people are tall and flexible. The difference is the University of Virginia (UVA) system. Under coach Todd DeSorbo, Walsh has turned into a short-course monster. Before she broke the long-course world record, she was already obliterating the NCAA record books. In 2024, she became the first woman to break 48 seconds in the 100-yard butterfly. Then she broke 47.
Basically, she’s playing a different sport right now.
The "Post-Paris" Revenge Tour
Paris was... complicated. Walsh went in as the heavy favorite for gold. She had the world record. She had the momentum. But the Olympics are a different beast. In a heart-wrenching final, her teammate Torri Huske touched her out by 0.04 seconds.
Four hundredths. That’s the blink of an eye.
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Walsh took home the silver, but if you thought that would slow her down, you haven't been paying attention. Since Paris, she has been on what I’d call a "scorched earth" tour.
In late 2024 and early 2025, she shifted her focus to the short-course meter (SCM) pool, and the results were bordering on illegal. At the 2024 Short Course World Championships, she didn't just win the 100m fly; she set a new world record of 52.71. She also broke the 50m fly world record (23.72) and the 100m IM world record.
At this point, she isn't just a "butterflyer." She's the fastest female swimmer on the planet, period.
What Most People Get Wrong About Her Success
There's this misconception that Gretchen Walsh is just a "sprinter" who can't handle a "real" 100-meter race. People pointed to her silver in Paris as proof that she "fades" at the end.
That’s a bit of a lazy take.
Winning an Olympic silver medal while being slightly off your best doesn't mean you're failing; it means your "floor" is higher than everyone else's "ceiling." In the 2025 season, she’s actually changed her training to include more aerobic "base" work. She’s focusing on the "up-kick" in her dolphin kick—most swimmers only focus on the down-kick—which makes her underwater movement twice as effective.
Why You Should Care
Swimming records usually fall by hundredths. Walsh is taking chunks of tenths and even full seconds off times. We are witnessing the "Stephen Curry" moment of women's swimming. She is changing the geometry of the pool by staying underwater longer and attacking the first 25 meters with more aggression than the sport has ever seen.
Actionable Insights for Swimmers and Fans
If you're looking to learn from the Gretchen Walsh world record or just want to know what to watch for in her next race, here’s the breakdown:
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- Master the Underwater: Walsh proves that the race isn't won on the surface. If you're a competitive swimmer, your goal should be 12 to 15 dolphin kicks off every wall. It’s painful, but it’s where the speed is.
- Focus on the Up-Kick: Don't let your legs just "float" back up after a kick. Actively engage your hamstrings and glutes to snap your feet back up. That’s the Walsh secret.
- The Power of Professionalism: Since graduating from UVA in 2025, Walsh is now a full-time pro. This means more recovery, better nutrition, and specialized gym work. Expect her times to drop even further as she prepares for the LA 2028 Games.
- Watch the 50m Free: Keep an eye on her freestyle. While the fly is her signature, her 50m free is becoming equally dangerous. She’s already hovering near the world record there, too.
The era of Sarah Sjöström was incredible, but the Gretchen Walsh era is going to be faster, deeper, and—honestly—a lot more fun to watch. She’s not just breaking records; she’s rewriting what we thought a human being could do in the water.