Gretchen Walsh shakes the world record with 54.60 100 flying

Gretchen Walsh showed no signs that the Pro Swim Series Stop in Fort Lauderdale dismantled a record-breaking short course season and the Long Course campaign started by continuing her story.

In her first long course swimming in the 100-butterfly of the year, Walsh implemented her world record in the Prelims in Fort Lauderdale and climbed 55.09 to throw nine hundredths of their previous mark of 55.18 at the US Olympic exams last summer.

In the final, Walsh set up a stunning time of 54.60 and was the first woman to broke the 55-second barrier, while she took 49 one hundredth in her hour old world record.

Split comparison

2024 US Olympic attempts	2025 PSS – Fort Lauderdale (preparations)	2025 PSS – Fort Lauderdale (final)
25.45	25.54	25.32
55.18 (29.73)	55.09 (29.55)	54.60 (29.28)

Racing video

With the kind permission of the USA swimming on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm-yqx6terk

The 22-year-old American now has the five fastest performances in history, all of which have come within the past 11 months.

They took the world record in the semi -finals of the US Olympic exams last June in 55.18 and won the final in 55.31.

A month later, Walsh set a new Olympic record of 55.38 at halftime at the Olympic Games in Paris Torri Huske (55.59).

All -time performances, women 100 Butterfly (LCM)

1. Gretchen Walsh (USA), 54.60 – 2025 PSS – Fort Lauderdale
2. Gretchen Walsh (USA), 55.09 – 2025 PSS – Fort Lauderdale
3. Gretchen Walsh (USA), 55.18 – 2024 US Olympic Studies
4. Gretchen Walsh (USA), 55.31 – 2024 US Olympic attempts
5. Gretchen Walsh (USA), 55.38 – 2024 Olympic Games
6. Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 55.48 – Olympic Games 2016
7. Torri Huske (USA), 55.52 – 2024 US Olympic attempts
8. Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 55.53 – 2017 World Championships
9. Maggie Macneil (MAY) / Torri Huske (USA), 55.59 – 2021 Olympic Games / 2024 Olympic Games
10. – –

“I have to set some new goals. It was shocking, I hadn't expected to be here,” said Walsh after the race. “I knew I would have fun outside. I love to swim outside and see my friends again. It was a long NCAA season in which you don't see everyone who is a professional, so I had a great time and it helped me very quickly.

“I think that is very good when everything comes this summer. I definitely have to continue working and find new motivation because I have exceeded so many obstacles that I talked about before the season. I may have to be creative with targets.

“I am really satisfied with where I am right now. I look forward to coming back to Charlottesville, graduating and starting this per trip. It started with such a high note; it will be great.”

Walsh also set a new American record in the 50s fly of women to reach 24.93 to become only the second woman in history under 25 seconds, to give a new lifespan in the 100 free (52.90), and added a fourth victory in the 50 -Free (24.33).

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