Gretchen Walsh sets Olympic swimming record in 100 fly in Paris 2024
Nashville native Gretchen Walsh set an Olympic record Saturday while swimming for Team USA at the Paris Summer Games.
Walsh, a 21-year-old Harpeth Hall graduate, swam the women’s 100-meter butterfly semifinal in 55.38 seconds. Sarah Sjöström of Sweden held the record at 55.48.
Walsh holds the world record, which she set in June at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials at 55.18.
Walsh, who swims collegiately at Virginia, has won 18 NCAA championships and 21 All-ACC awards. Her older sister, Alex, is also an Olympic swimmer and will compete in the 200 individual medley.
Gretchen is scheduled to also swim in the 4×100-meter relay later Saturday.
MORE:Sisters Alex, Gretchen Walsh went from floating in Nashville pools to Olympic Games Paris 2024
The 100 butterfly final is Sunday at 1:40 p.m. CT. Torri Huske of the U.S. also qualified for the final with a win in the second semifinal.
Sam Sklar is the Southern Miss beat reporter for the Hattiesburg American. Email him at ssklar@hattiesb.gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
