Walsh triumphs over illness at U.S. camp to clinch butterfly world gold
Gretchen Walsh Secures Gold in 100m Butterfly at World Championships
b>Gretchen Walsh captured gold in the 100m butterfly final at the World Championships in Singapore, clocking a time of 54.73 seconds – the second-fastest record ever.
Race Highlights
- b>Walsh defied illness and delivered a dominant performance, finishing ahead of Belgium’s Roos Vanotterdijk (55.84) and Australia’s Alexandria Perkins (56.33).
- b>Her 54.73‑second swim comes only minutes after setting a world record of 54.60 seconds in May.
- b>Walsh marked her first individual world title in long‑course competition, building on her strong track record from the Paris Olympics.
Walsh’s Reflections
Walsh expressed deep pride and resilience:
“b>I’m so happy, to be under 55 again is everything. It was not easy, and I’m just really proud of myself for that time.”
She added the boldness she brought to the event:
“b>It took a lot of guts. I just wanted to go out here and do it for my team, just represent the flag well.”
Walsh revealed unexpected motivation:
“b>That race came out of somewhere – I don’t know where. I’m really, really happy.”
Context and Competition
Walsh entered the championship as the clear favourite, carrying the weight of an Olympic silver medal. She had previously secured two relay gold medals at the Olympic Games but was narrowly edged out by teammate Torri Huske in the 100m butterfly final.
Huske opted not to compete in the 100m butterfly in Singapore, citing an outbreak of gastroenteritis within the American squad.
Conclusion
Walsh’s triumph marks a momentous achievement in her career, reinforcing her position as a leading force in competitive swimming worldwide.
