The women’s 100-meter butterfly heats featured a tough duel between several racers. Torri Huske won her race in Heat 3 with a powerful performance, demonstrating Team USA’s promise at the Paris Olympics.
At the Paris La Defense Arena, all of the swimmers gathered in the pool, heads held high, hoping to advance to the semi-finals. However, just a handful could pass through, and the athletes were well aware of this. Huske made no room for her competitors and got off to a quick start from the time she heard the whistle.
The swimmer is well-known for her rapid starts, which she demonstrated once more at her second Olympic Games. Huske was swimming away from all of her opponents, reaching the 50-meter mark first and immediately turning to sprint for the final 50 meters.
However, with a few meters remaining, she was challenged by her Canadian competitor, Margaret Mac Neil. This became a stressful time in the stadium, as Torri’s one mistake could lose her in the race.
But, defying all fears, Huske made a statement with her superior swimming technique, putting Margaret 0.28 seconds behind as the American swimmer completed her 100-meter with a 56.72, followed by the Canadian swimmer in 57.00. The win also ensured that she secured her semi-final spot in the coveted Paris Olympics.
Torri Huske had a great time in the water, but her Team USA teammate, who was set to participate in the next heat, had a close race.
Torri Huske Stays Ahead of Gretchen Walsh
Gretchen Walsh, the world record holder in the 100-meter butterfly, had a similar perspective as she watched her teammate easily advance to the semi-finals. She also committed to the crowd’s expectations by taking the race lead from the start, right after the whistle was blown.
Walsh dominated the first 50-meter mark and returned straight to the starting spot, which also served as the pool’s finish line. However, with only a few meters remaining in the race, the American swimmer’s pace decreased.
This provided a tremendous opportunity for Japanese swimmer Mizuki Hirai, who stormed ahead of Walsh and took first place with a 56.71. The world record holder finished the race in 56.75 seconds, which was enough to qualify her for the semi-finals, right behind Huske in the standings, but she also recognized that the competition in Paris would be more difficult.
