By Sharon Robb
INDIANAPOLIS, June 17, 2024—A day after breaking the world record in the 100-meter butterfly, Gretchen Walsh punched her ticket to the Paris Olympics Sunday at the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Walsh, 21, of the University of Virginia, came back to win the butterfly in 55.31, just shy of her world record time of 55.18. She now has the top two times in the world.
“I’m still in shock, I don’t even know what to say,” said the 6-foot-2 Walsh. “Making the team was the biggest goal, but getting the world record was absolute insanity. I couldn’t ask for a better first event of the meet.”
The women’s race featured three of the world’s top swimmers. Walsh finished ahead of Olympians Torri Huske in 55.52 and Regan Smith in 55.62.
“(Sister) Alex (Walsh) and (Virginia and Olympic women’s coach) Todd (DeSorbo) have been with me every step of the way since last Trials, and this was a full-circle moment for me and for them,” Walsh said. “This whole journey has been full of ups and downs. But I’m just really happy to be on such a high right now and have them alongside me experiencing it.”
Carson Foster, 22, of Mason Manta Rays had to wait three years but made Team USA in the 400-meter individual medley. At the 2021 Trials he lost the early lead to finsih third behind Chase Kalisz and Jay Litherland. This time around he was not to be denied after taking a commanding lead and not relinquishing it this time to win in 4:11.02.
“I was trying really hard to stay in my own lane,” Foster said. “I immediately looked to my left (when I finished the race) and saw that I had won, and at that moment it was such a big relief. All the work and everything, mental and physical, that was such a relief, and also just being able to look over at my family and friend and them going crazy.”
With his pregnant wife and Olympic swimmer Melanie Margalis cheering loudly from the stands, veteran swimmer Nic Fink, 30, of Metro Atlantic Aquatic Club won the 100-meter breaststroke in 59.08 ahead of Charlie Swanson in 59.16.
“It’s great because I know she’s always supported me at these meets and been my biggest fan and that’s never been in doubt and vice versa,” Fink said. “I was always her biggest fan, and we were always excited for our successes.”
Fink is the lone American sub-59 this season, going 58.65 at the World Championships in Doha where he won the world title.
The sidebar stories were some of the more interesting.
Gabrielle (Gaby) Rose, at 46, not only qualified for the Trials, but the masters swimmer and two-time Olympian swam a lifetime-best 1:08.42 in the 100 breaststroke to advance to the semifinals where she bettered that time in 1:08.32. She was overcome with emotion from the jubilant crowd reaction. She finished 10th of 16, just two spots away from finals. She is the oldest swimmer in the meet.
“That was my big stretch goal. I was really, really nervous because I just wanted to have the swim that I’m capable of,” Rose said. “Just relieved that the swim I knew I was capable of came out in that moment.”
Hunter Armstrong, one of the country’s backstrokers, scared the beejeebers out of veteran broadcaster Rowdy Gaines when he slipped off the wedge and fell behind to eighth at the 50 in the 100 backstroke. He said the backstroke wedge didn’t set properly and a camera was placed where he usually puts his hand and had to adjust throwing him off at the start. The always emotional Gaines was beside himself during the race which Armstrong ended up qualifying fourth in 53.57 after an incredible comeback.
In the men’s 200-meter freestyle semifinal, University of Florida alum Kieran Smith turned it on to earn the top seed in 1:45.39, his fastest time in two years.
For the first time in the history of the Trials, the event is being held inside the National Football League’s Lucas Oil Stadium.
Among local swimmers second day action:
Erika Pelaez of Eagle Aquatics won her 200-meter freestyle heat in 2:00.37 with a 30.40 final split and finished 31st overall.
Reese Branzell of St. Andrew’s Aquatics and Athens Bulldogs was 33rd in the 200-meter freestyle in 1:49.14.
Dylan Felt of Swim Fort Lauderdale was 24th in the 200 freestyle in 1:48.19.
Kaii Winkler of Eagle Aquatics was 46th in 1:50.59.
Former American Heritage swimmer Landon Kyser was 58th in the 100-meter backstroke in 55.95. Kyser’s father Bill is an Ironman and top multisport athlete.
Josh Zuchowski of FAST, competing in the fastest heat, was 32nd in his 100 backstroke in 55.36.
More than 1,000 swimmers including nine from Florida Gold Coast Swimming, are competing for 52 spots (two swimmers per individual event) on Team USA headed to the July 26-Aug. 11 Paris Summer Olympics. The trials are being featured on prime time television coverage each night on USA Network, NBC and Peacock.
Each day features a preliminary session from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with races to determine who will advance to the semifinals and finals. The semifinals and finals sessions take place from 7:45-8 p.m. depending on TV coverage, to 10 p.m. with an Olympian named to Team USA every night.
SUNDAY FINALS
WOMEN
100-meter butterfly:
- Gretchen Walsh, NAC 55.31, 2. Torri Huske, AAC 55.52, 3. Regan Smith, TXLA 55.62.
MEN
400-meter individual medley:
- Carson Foster, RAYSOH 4:07.64, 2. Chase Kalisz, TXLA 4:09.39, 3. Jay Litherland, TXLA 4:12.34.
100-meter breaststroke:
- Nic Fink, NYAC 59.08, 2. Charlie Swanson, NOVAVA 59.16, 3. Josh Metheny, ISC 59.23.
2024 U.S. Olympic Swim Trials Schedule
Monday, June 17: Women’s 400 IM, Women’s 100 Backstroke, Men’s 800 Freestyle.
Tuesday, June 18: Men’s 200 Butterfly, Men’s 100 Freestyle, Women’s 1500 Freestyle, Women’s 100 Freestyle, Men’s 200 Breaststroke.
Wednesday, June 19: Women’s 200 Breaststroke, Men’s 200 Backstroke, Women’s 200 Butterfly.
Thursday, June 20: Women’s 200 Backstroke, Men’s 50 Freestyle, Men’s 200 IM.
Friday, June 21: Men’s 100 Butterfly, Women’s 200 IM, Women’s 800 Freestyle.
Saturday, June 22: Women’s 50 Freestyle, Men’s 1500 Freestyle.
Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com
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