Paris Olympics, Day 1 Semifinals: Upstart Gretchen Walsh Paces Veteran Field into Final of 100 Butterfly

Paris Olympics, Day 1 Semifinals: Upstart Gretchen Walsh Paces Veteran Field into Final of 100 Butterfly

Can the newcomer crash the veterans’ party?

The top-five finishers in the women’s 100-meter butterfly from the Tokyo Olympics will return to the final at the Paris Games after successfully negotiating the semifinals at La Defense Arena on Saturday night. In their quest to reach the podium, they’ll have to fend off the event’s newest star.

American Gretchen Walsh jumpstarted the first night of finals by producing the No. 3 performance of all-time, an Olympic-record effort of 55.38 that landed the University of Virginia sensation the top seed for the final. Chasing Walsh will be an impressive collection of vets, including the United States’ Torri Huske (56.00) and China’s Zhang Yufei (56.15).

Walsh didn’t hold back in making a statement during the first semifinal. As was the case at last month’s United States Olympic Trials, where she set a world record of 55.18, Walsh attacked her race while building a sizable lead. She went out in 25.29, which was .16 under world-record pace, and maintained her advantage down the stretch to notch a time that only she has beaten. In addition to her world record, Walsh went 55.31 at the U.S. Trials. The Olympic record she broke belonged to Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom (55.48) from the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Whether anyone can challenge Walsh in the final will depend heavily on not losing contact with the American. Walsh’s front-end speed has enabled her to open up large cushions on the opposition. The problem for her rivals is that she has also brought closing speed to the table, consequently negating the chase-her-down approach. Not only did Walsh deliver the fastest opening 50 of the semifinals, her closing split of 30.09 was also the best of the field.

Although Walsh will head into the final as the favorite, she’ll be tested by a field that is deep in experience. The fourth-place finisher in Tokyo, Huske is again positioned to pursue a medal, while Zhang will return to the final after earning silver three years ago. Huske was timed in 55.52 at the American Trials and may have another drop for the final, given how she progressed by rounds in Indianapolis.

Tying for fourth place was Germany’s Angelina Kohler, who won the world title earlier this year in Doha, and Canada’s Maggie Mac Neil, the reigning Olympic champ. Kohler and Mac Neil swam matching times of 56.55, and were followed by Emma McKeon (56.74), who was the bronze medalist in Tokyo.

Rounding out the field for the final were Japan’s Mizuki Hirai (56.80) and Sweden’s Louise Hansson (56.93), who was fifth at the last Olympics. This summer marks the first time it has taken sub-57 to qualify for the final of the 100 fly. A 57.19 was required in 2021.

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