Gretchen Walsh, the newly minted world record-holder, secured her spot in the Paris Olympics by winning the women’s 100m butterfly in a swift 55.31 seconds on Sunday.
Although the 21-year-old couldn’t match her incredible semi-final time of 55.18 that shattered Sarah Sjoestroem’s previous record of 55.48, she still managed to clock the second-fastest time in history and clinch her first Olympic qualification.
“I’m still in shock,” said Walsh. “Making the team was my biggest goal, but setting a world record was absolutely insane.”
Meanwhile, Torri Huske, the 2022 world champion who missed out on a medal at the Tokyo Olympics, finished second with a lifetime best time of 55.52 – the fourth-fastest ever recorded in the event.
Former backstroke world record-holder, Regan Smith, finished third with a time of 55.62, missing her chance for an individual Olympic spot.
The competition at the US trials was intense, with only the top two finishers earning individual berths for Paris.
Despite tying for the fifth-fastest time in the event, Smith fell short of qualifying.
The trials took place at the impressive Lucas Oil Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts.
Carson Foster, who narrowly missed out on the Tokyo Games, won the 400m individual medley on the second night of action, securing his spot for the Paris Olympics ahead of Tokyo gold medallist Chase Kalisz.
Foster led the race from start to finish, winning in 4:07.64, with Kalisz finishing second in 4:09.39.
Nic Fink, a 30-year-old veteran, secured his spot in the Paris Olympics by winning the men’s 100m breaststroke in 59.08, with Charlie Swanson coming in second at 59.16.
Lilly King, the world record-holder and 2016 Rio gold medallist, topped the times in the women’s 100m breaststroke semi-finals with a time of 1:05.67.
Katie Ledecky, a freestyle great already heading to her fourth Olympics after winning the 400m freestyle, led the 200m freestyle semi-final with a time of 1:55.25.
Ryan Murphy, the double backstroke gold medallist from Rio in 2016, led the way in the men’s 100m backstroke semi-finals with a time of 52.65.
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