World Record Breaker Gretchen Walsh Leads Charge in 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials

The 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials kicked off with an impressive performance by Gretchen Walsh, who broke the world record in the semi-finals of the women’s 100 butterfly. She clocked in at 55.18, surpassing Sarah Sjostrom’s record of 55.48 set in 2016. Walsh’s remarkable swim was the highlight of the evening, with the women’s 100 fly final scheduled for the next day.

In addition to Walsh’s record-breaking swim, Katie Ledecky and Aaron Shackell secured their spots at the Paris Olympics by winning the women’s and men’s 400 freestyle events. Shackell and Ledecky showed impressive performances, with Shackell qualifying for the first time and Ledecky for the fourth.

The finals qualifiers for both men’s and women’s events were announced after two days of intense competition that featured swimmers from different regions across the country showcasing their skills. For women’s 100 fly event included Gretchen Walsh, Torri Huske, Regan Smith, Alex Shackell, Claire Curzan, Emma Sticklen, Beata Nelson, and Kelly Pash while men’s 400 free top qualifiers were Aaron Shackell, Kieran Smith