100 m butterfly, women, 25 m pool

What to remember

Budapest, December 14, 2024: at the short course World Championships, Gretchen Walsh swam the 100 m butterfly in 52.71 s. The American, born in 2003, specialises in freestyle and butterfly, and this race sits right in her area of strength.

Earlier that year, at the Paris Olympics, the 100 m butterfly had brought her a silver medal. She also set the Olympic record in the event during the semi-finals there, in 55.38, a time swum in a long course pool. She has set world records in several sprint events: the long course 100 m butterfly, the 50 m freestyle in both formats, and the short course 50 m butterfly and 100 m individual medley.

The women's 100 m butterfly reached the Olympic programme before the men's race: it was introduced in 1956, against 1968 for the men. Both have been on the Worlds programme from the very first championships, held in 1973.