By Sean Griffin on SwimSwam
2025 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Tuesday, June 3 – Saturday, June 7, 2025 Indianapolis, Indiana Indiana University Natatorium LCM (50 meters) World Championship Selection Criteria SwimSwam Preview Index Meet Central Psych Sheets (Updated 6/02) Live Results How To Watch (USA Swimming Network) Prelims Live Recap: Day 1 | Day 2 Finals Live Recap: Day 1 | Day 2Night two of the 2025 U.S. National Championships, which serve as the selection meet for the World Championships, wrapped up with a bang in the women’s 50 butterfly.
In the final event of the night, Virginia’s Gretchen Walsh clocked a new American record and U.S. Open record of 24.66, undercutting her own previous marks of 24.93 from last month. That swim had marked the first time in her career she’d broken the 25-second barrier, and it made her just the second woman ever to enter that time range.
Previously, Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom, the six-time defending world champion in the event, had been the only swimmer under 25 seconds. Sjostrom, who is sitting out this season after announcing her pregnancy, still holds the world record at 24.43 from 2014. Walsh remains the 2nd-fastest woman in history and now owns the 4th-fastest performance all-time, moving up from 13th in that department.
Updated Top 10 Performers All-Time, Women’s 50 LCM Butterfly,: 24.43 — Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden), 2014 24.93 — Gretchen Walsh (USA), 2025* 25.05 — Zhang Yufei (China), 2023 25.07 — Therese Alshammar (Sweden), 2009 25.11 — Rikako Ikee (Japan), 2018 25.17 — Melanie Henique (France), 2021 25.20 — Francesca Halsall (Great Britain), 2014 25.24 — Jeanette Ottesen (Denmark), 2013 25.24 — Ranomi Kromowidjojo (Netherlands), 2021 25.28 — Marleen Veldhuis (Netherlands), 2009Updated Top 5 All-Time Rankings, Women’s LCM 50 Butterfly:
Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden) 24.43, 2014 Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 24.66, 2025* Zhang Yufei (China) – 25.05, 2023 Therese Alshammar (Sweden) – 25.07, 2009 Rikako Ikee (Japan) – 25.11, 2018In addition to her historic 50 fly performance tonight, the Todd DeSorbo–coached star made headlines yesterday as well, becoming the fifth-fastest American woman in history in the 100 frees with a time of 52.78. She touched 2nd in that race to qualify for the World Championship team there, too.
Walsh, already moving through Trials with two qualifications under her belt, is the heavy favorite for gold in the 50 fly and a strong medal contender in the aforementioned 100 free. She’ll take on the 100 fly tomorrow, where she’ll have a chance to break the world record in that event for the fourth time in her career—and the third time this season. Keep an eye on her 54.60 mark in that race. She’ll close out her meet on Saturday with the 50 free, where she may challenge the 24-second barrier and take aim at Kate Douglass’ American record of 23.91.
Walsh’s big breakout on the long course international stage began at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, where she opened with the previous world record in the 100 fly. She also qualified in the 50 and 100 free events. At the Paris Games, she claimed silver in the 100 fly (55.63, behind Huske), finished 4th in the 50 free (24.21), and touched 8th in the 100 free (53.04). She also earned three relay medals: two golds in the women’s 4×100 medley and mixed 4×100 medley relays, and one silver in the 4×100 free relay.
Outside of the long course pool, Walsh has firmly established herself as the top short course swimmer on the planet. While her dominance in short course yards was already evident during her standout career at the University of Virginia, she finally had the opportunity to showcase that ability in short course meters last year—and did so in spectacular fashion.
She exploded at the Short Course World Championships this past December. There, she earned seven gold medals, set 11 world records across six different events (including two relays), and rewrote the record books in the 50 free (22.83), 50 fly (23.94), 100 fly (52.71), and 100 IM (55.11). She also posted the second-fastest time ever in the 100 free at 50.31.
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