World Championships, Day 2 Finals: Gretchen Walsh Stands and Delivers 100 Butterfly Gold in Sizzling 54.73
U.S. superstar Gretchen Walsh stood and delivered the race of her life and under the toughest of circumstances to win her maiden World Championship gold medal and the U..S team’s first gold in Singapore tonight – nudging her own world record along the way, winning in a time of 54.73.
The 22-year-old world-record holder was under her own record pace until the final stages, fading ever so slightly, after turning in 25.16 – 0.16 under the mark she set in Fort Lauderdale in May – and powering down the second lap in a world of her own – smashing the old Championship record of 55.53 set by the legendary Sarah Sjostrom at the 2017 World’s in 2017.
After the race, Walsh was asked about the illness that has rocked the U.S. team. “It took a lot of guts. I think I just wanted to go out there and do it for my team. Represent the flag well and I think that race just… came out of somewhere… I’m really, really happy,” Walsh said.
“(Winning that final) means everything. It was not easy. And I’m just really proud of myself for that time. And giving myself grace throughout this whole process and (just) so happy to be under 55 again.”
The smile said it all when she touched the wall, tonight was all about the title after agreeing decision 24 hours ago to withdraw reluctantly from the American 400 freestyle relay team – the US team confirming the change in the team was “illness related” – Gretchen forever the team player going from a world of hurt to a world title.
The U.S. team has confirmed it has been dealing with a bout of “acute gastroenteritis” that began at its pre-meet training camp and is now impacting the competition.
The 2024 Olympic silver medalist has taken the swimming world by storm in 2025 – swimming into uncharted waters – the only woman to swim under 55 seconds in the 100m butterfly. After her world record swim followed by her 54.76 at the U.S. Nationals and tonight’s 54.73, Walsh now owns the eight fastest time ever swum.
“The world record, just having that title as the world record holder is a lot of pressure, but I feel like I’ve gotten used to knowing that that’s my best time, and that’s just kind of what I have to shoot for every time I dive in,” Walsh said. “I’ve gotten more and more comfortable with it.”
Roos Vanotterdijk, Gretchen Walsh & Alex Perkins on the 100 fly podium 00 Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr/Swimming Australia
Belgium’s rising star Roos Vanotterdijk held on to take the silver in 55.84, wining her country’s first World Championship medal since 1998. She became the eighth-fastest performer in history with the swim.
“Just amazing, I don’t really have any other words for it,” Vanotterdijk said. “I was just coming into this competition, I knew some good things could happen. It already happened in the heats and the semi-finals and I was really, really pleased with how that went, so I went into the final (feeling) amazing and everything was just a really great bonus.
“I just went into the final without any expectations, just trying to enjoy myself and just go in with full confidence and see what can happen. And something incredible happened, so I’m really happy.”
The bronze went to Australia’s Alex Perkins, breaking through to win her maiden World Championship medal in 56.33.
Perkins, who celebrated a personal best of 56.19 on her 25th birthday in Sunday’s semifinal, said she couldn’t be happier, .
“I tried not to expect anything going into that final. I just wanted to put my best foot forward and be proud of what I’ve done. Coming away with the medal is just a bonus,” said Perkins.
“I feel like I’ve always been a hard worker with my training, but I think a lot of it’s probably just come from the confidence in racing and having that self-belief and backing myself a little bit more.”
And full of praise for Walsh, saying: “She’s an incredible athlete. I knew she’d be in the race and wanting that individual world title. That lifts the whole field. I’m really happy she was there and that I got to race alongside her. She’s just incredible.
“We had a little chatter in marshalling, and she’s so lovely and humble. It’s just really an honor to be able to race against someone like Gretchen.”
Gretchen Walsh’s Fastest Eight Times
1. 54.60WR (2025 TYR Pro Series, Fort Lauderdale)
2. 54.73 (2025 World Championships, Singapore)
3. 54.76 (2025 Toyota National Championships)
4. 55.09 (2025 TYR Pro Series, Fort Lauderdale)
5. 55.18 (2024 Olympic Trials)
6. 55.29 (2025 Toyota National Championships)
7. 55.31 (2024 Olympic Trials)
8. 55.38 (2024 Olympic Trials)
