{"id":649299,"date":"2026-08-01T18:46:35","date_gmt":"2026-08-02T01:46:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=649299"},"modified":"2026-08-01T19:34:56","modified_gmt":"2026-08-02T02:34:56","slug":"u-s-nationals-day-five-womens-finals-gretchen-walsh-scares-world-record-in-50-freestyle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/u-s-nationals-day-five-womens-finals-gretchen-walsh-scares-world-record-in-50-freestyle\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Nationals, Day Five Women’s Finals: Gretchen Walsh Scares Own World Record in 50 Freestyle"},"content":{"rendered":"

U.S. Nationals, Day Five Women’s Finals: Gretchen Walsh Scares World Record in 50 Freestyle<\/strong><\/p>\n

Can the final night of the United States National Championships match the excitement of the afternoon time trials? Following prelims on Saturday, Kate Douglass threw down the gauntlet with a clocking of 51.93 in the 100-meter freestyle, the performance making her just the fifth woman in history to crack the 52-second barrier in the event. Douglass also put down a challenge to the athletes racing at night.<\/p>\n

Gretchen Walsh is best positioned to match Douglass’ highlight-reel effort. Walsh delivered a 23.96 mark in the prelims of the 50 freestyle and will take aim at her world record, which sits at 23.55 from June’s Sette Colli Trophy in Rome. Walsh will be joined in the final by Anna Moesch, who went 24-low in the morning and set an American record of 51.88 in the 100 freestyle on Night One of the meet.<\/p>\n

In addition to the 50 freestyle, finals will be held on Saturday night in the 200 individual medley and 1500 freestyle. Here is an event-by-event recap of the Night Five action:<\/p>\n