Gretchen Walsh tops training partner Kate Douglass' world record

Field Level Media|published: Sun 28th June, 19:57 2026

Jun 5, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, UNITED STATES; Gretchen Walsh swims in the women’s 100 meter butterfly at the Toyota National Championships swimming meet at Indiana University Natatorium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images

Kate Douglass' reign as world-record holder in the 50-meter freestyle lasted all of nine days.

American Gretchen Walsh -- Douglass' training partner -- set a new world record in the event Sunday, turning in a 23.55-second run at the Sette Colli meet in Rome. That is .04 seconds faster than Douglass' time at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Indianapolis on June 19.

Sweden's Sarah Sjostrom, holder of the record before Douglass, finished second Sunday with a time of 23.86.

Walsh, 23, also holds the long-course world record in the 100 butterfly (54.60), the short-course world record in the 50 free (22.83), and numerous other short-course and relay world marks.

She won a pair of relay golds and two silvers at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

--Field Level Media

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