Gretchen Walsh outdid herself and the rest of the world at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials Saturday when she shattered the women’s 100-meter butterfly world record in her semifinal race at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
She posted a 55.18 time in the two-lap event, breaking Swedish swimmer Sarah Sjöström’s 55.48 mark from 2016.
“I didn’t think I was going to do it tonight,” Walsh said. “I just knew that I wanted to go a best time, and now, here I am, world record holder. It’s actually insane.
“I think I was probably the most shocked of all the people I know. I think that they all had confidence in me. … I was absolutely in awe. Totally surprised.”
The 21-year-old University of Virginia star opened the day with an impressive 55.94 race in prelims to easily qualify for the semifinals, when she stormed out with another blistering performance.
While Walsh dominated the second semifinal of the day, Regan Smith finished second at 55.92 to advance to Sunday’s final. Torri Huske won the first semifinal, posting a 55.79 time nearly breaking her own American record, and advanced as well.