Torri Huske is America’s new “Queen of Butterfly.” She chatted about her swimming career and the six medals she won for Team USA at the 2022 FINA World Championships in Budapest.
World Championships in Budapest
She reigned supreme at the 2022 FINA World Championships, which took place from June 18 to 25, winning first place in the women’s 100 meter butterfly event (and breaking an American record 55.64 seconds in the process), as well as the 4 x 100 medley and the 4 x 100 mixed medley relay races.
“I was really proud of the mixed medley relay that we did at Worlds because after the Olympics we got fifth in that event and I was really nervous because I didn’t know how it will go but then we won. The coaches and the staff put together a great relay,” she said.
Huske also claimed the bronze medals in the women’s 100 meter freestyle race, the 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay, and the 4 x 100 meter mixed freestyle.
“Winning those medals was really cool. It was a lot of fun,” she admitted. “I am glad that I am still improving in the 100 meter butterfly event. That’s the main thing. I was happy with it.”
Advice for hopefuls in swimming
For young and aspiring swimmers, she encouraged them “to do what they are passionate about.” “If you are not going to enjoy the sport then it’s probably not going to be for you. It’s a really big commitment especially if you want to get to the higher levels,” she said.
“In general, find something that you really like and work hard at it, and then pursue that,” she added.
She lives by the following motto: “Doing what you like and working really hard, and the rest will take care of itself.”
A native of Arlington, Virginia, she began swimming around the age of five. She is the daughter of Jim and Ying Huske.
The digital age
On being a swimmer in the digital age, she explained, “It is definitely different. I never considered this aspect when I was younger and I didn’t think that I would be swimming at this level. I never thought of social media when I was little.”
“It is really cool how they can incorporate technology into the training such as when you do a start or a turn. Video makes things a lot easier to see,” she added.
For recovery purposes, she shared that she uses Normatec, as well as the Hyperice massage guns. “They definitely help with recovery,” she admitted.
Motivations
On her daily motivations, Huske said, “After last year, getting 4th in the Olympics, was definitely a big motivator for this year. It’s not something that you want to happen again. In general, the team and the people tatt I am swimming for really motivate me, they keep me motivated, and they keep me working hard.”
At the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games, Huske won a silver medal as part of Team USA’s 4 x 100 meter medley relay race, and she finished in fourth place in the women’s 100 meter butterfly race (by one-hundredth of a second). “At the moment, when the silver medal happened it was almost a little bit sad because we were so close but once we were up on the podium, we realized more what we did was really amazing,” she said.
She revealed that she is attending Stanford University in California, and she will decide on a major at the end of her sophomore year.
Huske listed the butterfly as her personal favorite stroke in the sport. “My favorite event individually is the fly, that event is my child,” she said.
2024 U.S. Olympic Trials in Indianapolis
She is looking forward to the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials in Indianapolis, Indiana. “It is kind of crazy to me that the Trials will be coming up so fast,” she said. “Hopefully, I will make it again. I will be excited once the time comes.”
Success
On her definition of success, she said, “Finding something that makes you feel fulfilled and something that brings you happiness, a lot of the times, it is the journey.”
If she were to have any superpower, she said with a sweet laugh, “I would be able to stop time, where everyone around me is stopped but not me, and I wouldn’t age when I stop time.”
For her fans and supporters, she said, “It takes a village, I couldn’t have gotten here by myself. My friends, family, coaches, USA Swimming staff, and my teammates have been there for me the entire time.”
Huske also took some time to answer a few “Rapid Fire” questions.
Waffles or pancakes? Waffles
Flying or driving? Driving
City living or country living? City living
Summer or winter? Summer
Library or museum? Museum
Bath or shower? Shower
Pepsi or Coke? Coke
Texting or calling? Texting
Half-full or half-empty? Half-full
Curly fries or normal fries? Normal fries
Skydiving or scuba diving? Scuba diving
Indoor pool or outdoor pool? Outdoor pool
Tea or coffee? Tea
Rain or snow? Snow
Singing or dancing? Singing
Burgers or tacos? I can’t choose but I eat burgers more often
Long course or short course? Long course
Money or fame? Money
To learn more about Olympian and world champion swimmer Torri Huske, follow her on Instagram.
