By Torri Huske and Gretchen Walsh secured a 1-2 finish in the women’s 100m butterfly at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Huske claimed gold with a time of 55.59 seconds, narrowly edging out her teammate Walsh by just 0.04 seconds in an electrifying final.
For Huske, this victory represents a remarkable turnaround from her heartbreak at the Tokyo Olympics, where she missed the podium by a mere one-hundredth of a second. The 21-year-old’s perseverance and determination have now been rewarded with her first individual Olympic gold medal.
“I’m in shock right now,” Huske told NBC’s Melissa Stark immediately after the race. “I’m so thankful to be here with Gretchen. It’s just amazing. I’ve had a long road but I’ve had a lot of support and I’m so thankful for all of it.”
Gretchen Walsh, also 21, took the silver medal, adding to her impressive swimming resume. Walsh had entered the competition as the world record holder, having set a blistering time of 55.18 at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials in June. While she couldn’t replicate that record-breaking performance in Paris, her Olympic record time of 55.38 in the semifinals showcased her exceptional talent.
“I’m just happy that we’re both going to be 1-2 for USA on the podium today,” Walsh commented, emphasizing the team spirit between the American swimmers.
The success for Huske and Walsh extends beyond this individual event. Both athletes had already secured silver medals as part of the U.S. women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team earlier in the day, underlining their versatility and importance to the American swimming contingent.
China’s Zhang Yufei rounded out the podium, claiming the bronze medal with a time of 56.21 seconds. Zhang’s performance ensures that the rivalry between the USA and China in women’s swimming remains as fierce as ever.
This result not only highlights the individual brilliance of Huske and Walsh but also reinforces the USA’s status as a powerhouse in Olympic swimming. As the Paris Games continue, all eyes will be on the American team to see if they can maintain this momentum and add to their medal tally.
The women’s 100m butterfly final has set a high standard for excitement and competition in the pool, promising more thrilling races to come as the swimming events progress at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
