Newly crowned world record-holder Gretchen Walsh secured her spot in the Paris Olympics on Sunday by winning the women’s 100m butterfly in an impressive 55.31 seconds.
Although the 21-year-old Tennessean couldn’t quite match her extraordinary time of 55.18 set in the semi-finals, which broke Sarah Sjoestroem’s previous record of 55.48, she still clocked the second-fastest time ever and achieved her primary goal of earning her first Olympic berth.
“I’m still in disbelief,” she expressed in an interview on the pool deck. “I’m at a loss for words.
“Making the team was my biggest goal, but setting a world record was absolutely incredible.”
Torri Huske, the reigning 2022 world champion who missed out on a medal at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, finished second in a personal best time of 55.52, the fourth-fastest time ever, securing another chance at the Olympics.
However, former backstroke world record-holder Regan Smith will need to focus on her other events after finishing third in 55.62.
The intense competition at the US trials highlights the cut-throat nature of the sport, where only the top two finishers earn individual spots for Paris.
Smith’s time tied her for the fifth-fastest time in the event but wasn’t enough to secure her a spot.
The high-stakes meet took place at the impressive Lucas Oil Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts.
The second night of action started with 22-year-old Carson Foster, who narrowly missed out on the Tokyo Games with a third-place finish at the trials, winning the 400m individual medley to finally secure his ticket to Paris ahead of Tokyo gold medalist Chase Kalisz.
Foster led from start to finish, winning in 4 minutes 07.64 seconds, with Kalisz finishing second in 4:09.39 after narrowing the gap during the breaststroke and freestyle legs.
In Paris, both Americans will be aiming to challenge French world record-holder Leon Marchand, who has established himself as a dominant force in the global swimming scene and is expected to shine in his home country.
Jay Litherland, the silver medalist behind Kalisz in Tokyo, finished third.
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