2025 World Aquatics Championships: Gretchen Walsh Claims Gold in 100m Butterfly as Summer McIntosh Shines Again!

Team USA faced tough challenges at the World Aquatics Championships, but they clinched their first gold medal thanks to Gretchen Walsh. She won the 100m butterfly in 54.73 seconds, setting a new championship record. This time is just shy of her personal best of 54.60 seconds, which she set earlier this year.

The championships were marked by illness as a stomach bug swept through the team. Many swimmers had to drop out of events or struggled to perform their best. Despite feeling unwell, Walsh pushed through, noting that it took “a lot of guts” to compete. After her victory, she expressed surprise at her time, stating, “That race came out of somewhere, I don’t know what. I’m really, really happy.”

Walsh’s win could signal a turning point for Team USA, who now hope to rebound from their earlier struggles. They still have competitions running until August 3, offering Walsh additional chances to shine in the 100m freestyle, 50m freestyle, and 50m butterfly.

In exciting news beyond the American team, Canadian swimmer Summer McIntosh continues to pursue an ambitious goal. After winning the 200m individual medley, she is on track to become only the second swimmer, after Michael Phelps, to win five gold medals in individual events at a single championship. With three more races ahead, she still has opportunities to make history.

Meanwhile, a 12-year-old swimmer from China, Yu Zidi, made headlines despite finishing fourth in the 200m individual medley. Though fourth place typically doesn’t grab attention, Zidi’s young age does. She previously set the record for the fastest 200m individual medley time by a 12-year-old. Even without a medal, her performance showcased her talent and potential for future competitions, especially considering she narrowly missed qualifying for the 2024 Olympics last year.

As the championships continue, fans and swimmers alike are eager to see how Team USA and emerging talents like Zidi and McIntosh will perform in the coming days.



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Gretchen Walsh, World Aquatics Championships, Team USA, gold medals, 100m butterfly, gold medal, Summer McIntosh