Gretchen Walsh Swims Second-Fastest Time Ever in 50 Butterfly, Takes Down Own American Record in Win Against Sarah Sjostrom
Two years ago, Gretchen Walsh broke the long-standing world record in the 100 butterfly held by Sarah Sjostrom, with the American going on to stamp her dominance on the event. Now, Walsh is coming closer to Sjostrom’s global mark in the 50 fly, untouched since 2014, and in the process, she earned her first head-to-head win over the veteran Swede.
At the Sette Colli meet in Rome, Walsh won the 50 butterfly in 24.51, with Sjostrom a half-second back in 25.05. Walsh’s time was just eight hundredths behind Sjostrom’s world record of 24.43, which she set in Berlin 12 years ago, and the performance is the second-quickest of all-time. Belgium’s Roos Vanotterdijk finished well behind the top two in 25.87.
Walsh was already the only other swimmer to break 25, having topped out with an American record of 24.66 at last year’s U.S. Nationals. With Sjostrom absent from the 2025 World Championships while preparing to give birth to her first child, Walsh won the world title by a half-second over Australian Alex Perkins.
Sjostrom, 32, dominated the 50 fly during her peak years. She is one of only two swimmers to win six consecutive world titles in one event, topping this sprint in 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2024. Despite falling to Walsh in Rome, this performance represents a huge step in her comeback. Her time tied the lifetime best of China’s Zhang Yufei, who ranks third on the all-time list behind Walsh and Sjostrom.