Gretchen Walsh, a 21-year-old American swimmer, made a stunning start at the 2024 Short Course World Championships in Budapest, shattering a 15-year-old world record in the 50m butterfly event. The University of Virginia student and Team USA member achieved a remarkable time of 24.02 seconds, surpassing Therese Alshammar’s 2009 record by an impressive 0.36 seconds.
Walsh’s incredible performance came in the fifth preliminary round of the 50m butterfly. She exploded off the blocks, taking the lead instantly and maintaining it throughout the race. Her dominance was evident as she finished at least 0.75 seconds ahead of the rest.
Alshammar’s record, set in 2009, was achieved during the “shiny suit” era, when full-body wetsuits reduced drag in the water. Although these suits were banned in 2010, several records from that period still stood. Walsh’s achievement marks a significant milestone, breaking one of the longest-standing records in swimming.
Walsh’s impressive display in Budapest follows her successful summer in Paris, where she represented Team USA. She secured two gold medals in the 4X100m medley relay and 4X100m mixed medley relay, as well as a silver medal in the 4X100m freestyle relay. She also finished second in the 100m butterfly event.
With her record-breaking swim, Walsh has cemented her position as a top contender at the Short Course World Championships. She will have two more opportunities to improve her record, provided she advances through the semifinals.
