Gretchen Walsh has once again rewritten the record books, setting the 100m butterfly world record for the third time in just 12 months. The American swimmer clocked an astonishing 54.33 seconds in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, marking a new benchmark in the event.
A Year of Dominance
The 23-year-old reigning world champion now holds the 13 fastest times in the history of the 100m butterfly. Her latest achievement came at the same venue where she became the first woman to break the 55-second barrier. Reflecting on her performance, Walsh posted on Instagram: "Must be magic or something out here... let's make this an annual thing, shall we?"
Olympic Near Miss and Record-Breaking Form
Walsh narrowly missed out on Olympic gold in the 100m butterfly at the Paris Games, finishing behind US teammate Torri Huske. However, her record-breaking spree has been relentless. In May, she clocked 54.60 seconds to become the first woman under 55 seconds, achieving that feat twice in a single day.
Walsh's time is more than a second faster than the next-fastest woman, Sweden's Sarah Sjostrom, who recorded 55.48 seconds at the 2016 Olympics. In addition to her 100m butterfly record, Walsh also holds short-course world records in the 50m and 100m butterfly and the 50m freestyle.
Unprecedented Achievement
Her dominance in the event is unparalleled, with the top 13 fastest times all belonging to her. As she continues to push the boundaries of the sport, fans and pundits alike are eager to see how much faster she can go.
