Gretchen Walsh defied illness in the United States camp to power to a dominant victory in the 100m butterfly final at the world championships in Singapore on Monday.
World record holder Walsh took gold in 54.73sec — the second-fastest time in history — ahead of Belgium’s Roos Vanotterdijk (55.84) and Alexandria Perkins of Australia (56.33).
“I’m so happy, to be under 55 (sec) again is everything. It was not easy and I’m just really proud of myself for that time,” said the 22-year-old.
“It took a lot of guts. I just wanted to go out here and do it for my team, just represent the flag well.
“That race came out of somewhere — I don’t know where. I’m really, really happy,” added Walsh, who set the world record of 54.60sec in May.
This is Walsh’s first long course individual world title and the Olympic silver medallist was clear favourite.
She won two relay golds at the Paris Olympics but was pipped to gold in the 100m butterfly final by team-mate Torri Huske in an upset.
Huske decided against racing in the 100m butterfly in Singapore amid an outbreak of gastroenteritis in the American squad.
