BUDAPEST, Hungary — At the world short course championships, American swimmer Gretchen Walsh made headlines by setting three additional world records on Friday.
In a remarkable performance, she clocked an impressive time of 55.11 seconds in the final for the 100-meter individual medley. Walsh also made waves in the 100 butterfly, breaking the previous record twice in one day.
In the morning heats, she surpassed Canadian swimmer Margaret Mac Neil’s standing record of 54.05 seconds, finishing with a new mark of 53.24. Later in the evening semifinals, she pushed her record even further, ending with a time of 52.87 seconds.
With these achievements, Walsh has now accumulated a total of seven world records during the championships held at Duna Arena this week.
The U.S. men’s 4×200 relay team also showcased extraordinary talent by breaking two world records in the same race.
They completed the relay in a stunning 6:40.51, which is nearly four seconds faster than their previous record set at the 2022 championships in Melbourne, Australia.
Additionally, Luke Hobson, who led off the relay, established a new individual world record in the 200 freestyle that had been held by Germany’s Peter Biedermann since 2009.
American swimmers excelled further, with Regan Smith winning the women’s 50 backstroke final with a new world record time of 25.23 seconds.
Meanwhile, Kate Douglass set a new benchmark in the 200 breaststroke, improving her own record from October to an impressive 2:12.50.
It’s worth noting that the competitions were held in a 25-meter pool, which is half the length of a traditional Olympic swimming pool.
