Already in the attempts at 100 meters butterfly during the competition in Florida, the 22-year-old improved her world record from 55.18 to 55.09.
In the final, she crushed that time. Then Walsh became the first woman under 55 seconds when she was noted for the time 54.60.
Held the record for eight years
The Swedish superstar Sarah Sjöström had the world record on 100 meters butterfly for nearly eight years before Gretchen Walsh broke the record during the OS selection in June last year.
At the OS in Paris, Walsh had to settle for a silver in the event after her compatriot Torri Huske won.
Sarah Sjöström took OS gold on 100 meters butterfly in Rio de Janeiro 2016, but is no longer betting on the distance. In Paris last year, the Swede took double OS gold on 50 and 100 meters freestyle. She is already the world record holder on both distances.
Sjöström also holds the world record on 50 meters butterfly (24.43), but even there Walsh is approaching. On Friday, she set an American record with 24.93 and is thus the second fastest woman in history on the distance.
At the OS in Los Angeles 2028, 50 meters butterfly – where Sjöström has six straight VM golds – will be included in the program. Something that was welcomed by the Swede earlier in April.
"All 50-meter distances are finally added to the OS program! The best news ever for the swimming world", wrote the Swedish swimming queen on Instagram.
Record by Ledecky
Sjöström has taken a break from swimming in connection with her and her husband Johan de Jong Skierus expecting their first child, but she has plans to swim OS 2028.
Also, long-distance queen Katie Ledecky responded with a world record during the competitions. Ledecky improved her record on 800 meters freestyle from the OS in Rio de Janeiro 2016 by nearly seven tenths to 8.04,12.
In Paris, Ledecky took her fourth straight OS gold on the distance.
Corrected version: Dream limit Walsh took herself under is 55 seconds.
