Gretchen Walsh Shatters World Cup Record in 100 Butterfly
The 2025 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Toronto witnessed a historic moment as Gretchen Walsh broke her own World Cup record in the women's 100 butterfly final. With a time of 53.10, Walsh claimed the top spot, surpassing her previous record of 53.69 set just two weeks prior in Carmel.
This achievement marks a significant milestone for Walsh, who now holds the top seven SCM 100 butterfly performances all-time. Her performance was particularly impressive, as she was faster than her Carmel time on all three of the first 25s, albeit fading slightly in the final stretch. Despite this, she remained well under record pace, finishing just 0.39 seconds shy of her own world record of 52.71, achieved at the 2024 World Championships.
Walsh's triumph in Toronto earned her the coveted triple crown in the event, a $10,000 bonus, and solidified her position at the pinnacle of the individual World Cup rankings with 177.3 points.
The All-Time Top Performances in Women's SCM 100 Fly now feature Walsh's remarkable times: 52.71 (2024), 52.87 (2024), 53.10 (2025), 53.24 (2024), 53.69 (2024), 53.72 (2025), and 53.83 (2025). Maggie MacNeil, from Canada, holds the second position with a time of 54.05 (2022).
This victory not only showcases Walsh's exceptional talent but also highlights the competitive nature of the World Cup Series, where records are constantly being broken and new stars emerge.
