It’s been a tough go for Team USA at the World Aquatics Championships, but the team won’t leave the event without a gold medal. Gretchen Walsh secured the squad’s first gold Monday, winning the 100m butterfly and setting a championship-record time in the process.
Walsh won the event in 54.73 seconds, a championship-record time. It’s the second-best 100m butterfly time ever, behind only the 54.60 record Walsh set in May.
It’s been a battle for Team USA. A stomach bug ripped through the team at the championships. Multiple swimmers pulled out of events due to the illness, while others turned in disappointing finishes due to the bug.
Walsh was among that group. She pulled out of the 4x100m relay Sunday due to illness. Walsh apparently felt good enough to compete in the 100m butterfly Monday, and said afterward that it “took a lot of guts” to make it happen.
Walsh added she wasn’t sure how she pulled off such an incredible time despite dealing with the illness, saying, “That race, it came out of somewhere, I don’t know what. I’m really, really happy.”
Roos Vanotterdijk finished second at the event, taking home the silver. Alexandria Perkins won the bronze.
The victory could be the first of many for Team USA. After some early struggles due to illness, the team finally seems to be back on the mend.
Swimming runs through Sunday, Aug. 3 at the event, giving the Americans a few more days to rebound after a disappointing start.
Walsh’s win Monday could wind up being exactly what Team USA needs to get back on track. As the rest of the team looks to recover, Walsh still has a few opportunities to take home more gold medals. She’ll also race in the 100m freestyle, 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly, and could take part in relays the rest of the week.
Summer McIntosh keeps five-gold dream alive
On the non-USA front, Canadian Summer McIntosh picked up another win in the 200m individual medley. McIntosh also won the 400m freestyle Sunday.
With the win, McIntosh could still make history at the event. McIntosh is attempting to become the second swimmer at the world championships to pick up five gold medals in individual events. The only other person to pull off that feat was American Michael Phelps.
McIntosh still has three more events to go to match Phelps. She’ll also compete in the 200m butterfly, 800m freestyle and 400m medley.
Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi turns in impressive performance
Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi turned in a fourth-place finish in the 200m individual medley Monday. While a fourth-place finish isn’t usually notable, Zidi’s age makes it quite the accomplishment. Zidi is just 12 years old.
Zidi is a known name in swimming circles. In May, she posted a 2:10.63 in the 200m individual medley. That was the fastest time ever by a 12-year-old, male or female. Last year, she missed out on a 2024 Olympics qualifying time by just two seconds.
World Aquatics usually has an age limit of 14, but Zidi was so fast in qualifiers that she made her way into the event. She didn’t pick up a medal in the 200m individual medley Monday, but proved she belonged at the event.
