Gretchen Walsh, the American swimming sensation, has taken the world by storm at the 2024 World Short Course Championships held at the Duna Arena in Budapest, Hungary. Over the course of six exhilarating days of competition, she captured attention by shattering records like never before, finishing with 11 world records and seven gold medals.
The highlight of Walsh's performance came on December 15, 2024, when she broke her own world record, clocking 22.83 seconds in the women’s 50-meter freestyle final—a record-breaking achievement. This thrilling swim not only secured her victory but also marked her tenth world record at the event. Walsh outpaced her fellow American competitor, Kate Douglass, who finished second with 23.05 seconds. Poland’s Katarzyna Wasick rounded out the podium, securing the bronze with 23.37 seconds.
Walsh's magical swim week continued as she set her 11th world record as part of the U.S. women's 4×100 medley relay team, which finished with an astonishing time of 3:40.41. The relay team, featuring Walsh alongside Regan Smith, Lilly King, and Douglass, started with Smith's remarkable backstroke lead-off leg of 54.02 seconds, also setting yet another world record.
Reflecting on her phenomenal accomplishments, Walsh said, "I am in a little bit of disbelief of myself honestly. And not in a bragging way, but I don’t know if anyone has done this many back-to-back-to-back records. I think it’s really cool to do it, and I am honored to be doing this at this stage and accomplishing what I am accomplishing." This statement captures the essence of her awe-inspiring feats throughout the championships, showcasing not only her achievements but also the immense dedication and hard work involved.
Walsh's performance was undeniably historic, as she became the only woman to break the prestigious 23-second mark twice, previously held by Ranomi Kromowidjojo. Her reasonable reaction time of 0.73 seconds helped propel her to this record-breaking swim—proving she is not only fast but strategic as well, especially with her renowned underwater dolphin kicks.
The 2024 World Short Course Championships were monumental, marking the most world records ever broken at the event, with 30 records shattered throughout the week. Walsh's impressive tally of 11 world records—nine individual and two relay—has set a new standard for excellence. The 21-year-old swimmer's accomplishments now stand as the most by any athlete at one meet, surpassing even legends like Mark Spitz and Michael Phelps.
Other key performances from the championships include Regan Smith's thrilling victory and world record time of 1:58.04 in the women's 200m backstroke, earning her gold. Meanwhile, Luke Hobson set his own world record for the men’s 200m freestyle with 1:38.61, showcasing the depth of talent present at the championships.
Walsh’s talent was no surprise to many, as she had already captured two gold medals and two silver medals at the Paris Olympics before heading to Budapest, where she continued to dazzle. Competing primarily in butterfly and freestyle events, her proficiency was clearly evident as she delivered extraordinary results—impressive enough to also earn her $290,000 (approximately AUD 455,000) as prize money across the week.
Throughout history, swimming has witnessed remarkable talents, but Walsh’s extraordinary 2024 performance buckles comparisons with some of the best. Her 11 world records outpace Phelps’ previous record of five individual world records at the 2005 World Championships, emphasizing her formidable status. Meanwhile, the field of competition often tends to be weaker at short course events compared to Olympic standards, lending itself to faster performances.
Speaking on her success at the event, Walsh remarked, "It really works for me in short course. I’ve just had a really great week. I’m just happy to prove to myself I’m capable of doing stuff like this." Her confidence was clear as she completed this historic event, illustrating her capabilities and foreshadowing what is yet to come as she continues her swimming career.
Looking forward, Walsh is still set to compete at the NCAA Championships scheduled for March 19-22, 2025, which will give her another platform to shatter more records. With her recent accolades and the excitement surrounding her prowess, expectations are high moving forward.
While maintaining her performance at such high stakes, Walsh remains grounded, demonstrating her competitive spirit and commitment to excellence. She has emerged as not just a champion but also as one of swimming’s hottest stars as the world watches eagerly. Her remarkable achievements at the Worlds not only raise the bar for her but for the sport as well, showcasing what can be accomplished through unyielding determination and passion.
