2024 U.S. Olympic Selection
Women's 100m Butterfly Final
- World Record: 55.18, Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 2024 US Olympic Trials
- American record: 55.18; Gretchen Walsh – 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials
- U.S. Open Record: 55.18; Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 2024 US Olympic Trials
- World Junior Record: 56.20; Claire Curzan (USA) – 2021 TAC Titans Premier Invitational Tournament
- 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Champions: Tori Fuske55.66
- 2024 Olympic Qualification Time: 57.92
- Gretchen Walsh (NAC), 55.31
- Tori Fuske (AAC), 55.52
- Regan Smith (TXLA), 55.62
- Claire Curzan (TAC-NC), 57.47
- Kelly Pash (TXLA), 57.72
- Beata Nelson (UN-WI) 57.80
- Lily Nordman (ALTO), 57.92
- Emma Sticklen (TXLA), 58.44
As expected, the women's 100m butterfly final at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials featured some of the fastest times in history. Gretchen Walsh won the race in 55.31 seconds, just 0.13 seconds slower than her own record from Saturday night. Her time was also the second-fastest ever. With that time, she qualified for the Olympic Games for the first time.
In second place after Walsh is Tori FuskeShe shaved 0.12 seconds off her pre-trial American best time of 55.64. Sarah SjostromHusk is likely to qualify for a second consecutive Olympic Games in the 100m butterfly.
But the craziest story from this race was Regan SmithSmith finished in third place and missed out on a spot on the Olympic team in her event, despite her personal best of 55.62 seconds, good for fifth-best time of all time. Smith is a favorite to win both the 200 butterfly and backstroke and still has a good chance to qualify for Paris, but missing out on the 100 butterfly with such a fast time is a testament to the depth of American talent in that event.
Smith's previous best time was 55.92 seconds, which she ran in the semifinals at the Olympic Trials. She came into the meet having run a personal best of 56.26 seconds a month earlier. Smith was all smiles after the race, knowing she had improved her time significantly in her best event going forward.
Top performers of all time in the Women's 100 Meter Butterfly (LCM):
- Gretchen WalshUnited States — 55.18 (2024)
- Sarah SjostromSweden — 55.48 (2016)
- Tori FuskeUnited States — 55.52 (2024)
- Maggie McNeil, Canada — 55.59 (2021)
- Regan SmithUnited States — 55.62 (2024)
On Sunday night, Walsh started 0.25 seconds faster than her own world record but finished 0.38 seconds slower. She was by far the fastest of the top three through the first 50 meters, but Smith was quickest in the second half, finishing under 29 seconds for the final 50 meters.
Split comparison:
| Gretchen Walsh2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Semifinals | Gretchen Walsh2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Finals | Tori Fuske2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Finals | Regan Smith2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Finals | |
| 50 minutes | 25.45 | 25.20 | 25.93 | 26.68 |
| 100 Meters | 29.73 | 30.11 | 29.59 | 28.94 |
| total | 55.18 | 55.31 | 55.52 | 55.62 |
When Husk and Walsh arrive in Paris, they will be the fastest active 100-meter butterfly runners and will be the Americans' favorites to win the gold medal in the event.
