Regan Smith and Gretchen Walsh claim golds at short course World Championships
The Paris 2024 medallists continued Team USA’s winning ways on the second day of competition in Budapest
Swimming
American swimming stars Regan Smith and Gretchen Walsh added two golds to Team USA’s growing medal haul Wednesday (11 December) at the 2024 World Aquatics Short Course Swimming World Championships (25m) in Budapest, Hungary..
First, Smith, who won five medals at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, clocked a championship record time of 54.55 to win the women’s 100m backstroke final. Teammate Katharine Berkoff finished 0.38 seconds behind at 54.93 in second. Canada’s Ingrid Wilm completed the podium (55.75).
Then came Walsh, a four-time Paris medallist, as she charged to a 24.01 to take the women’s 50m butterfly crown. Her time represents the third-fastest time in the event and comes after she lowered the world record twice on Tuesday (10 December), first to 24.02 in the morning heats and then to 23.94 in the semi-finals.
France’s Beryl Gastaldello (24.43) and Australia’s Alexandria Perkins (24.68) took silver and bronze, respectively.
Women’s competition concluded Wednesday with the women’s 800m freestyle final, which saw Aussie Lani Pallister atop the podium after a championship record time of 8:01.95.
The two men’s winners were Miron Lifintsev in the 100m backstroke and Noe Ponti in the 50m butterfly. Representing Switzerland, Ponti's 21.32 is a world record in the event.
The Worlds continue on Thursday (12 December) with eight finals.
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