NPR Reports from Paris: Torri Huske Triumphs in Women's 100-Meter Butterfly
- Torri Huske triumphed in the swimming competition in Paris, earning a gold medal after a prior disappointing performance at the Tokyo Olympics.
- Her teammate, Gretchen Walsh, was a strong contender leading up to the event due to her world record achievements.
- Huske's victory was particularly meaningful because it represented a significant turnaround from her previous Olympic experience.
NANTERRE, France — In a thrilling conclusion to the women's 100-meter butterfly race at the 2024 Summer Olympics, American swimmer Torri Huske secured a gold medal, marking a significant comeback after her fourth-place finish in Tokyo 2021. As she touched the wall, Huske initially struggled to believe she had won, despite the clear indication from the light on her block. The victory was particularly poignant for Huske, who reflected on the disappointment of her previous Olympic experience, admitting that she had been "naive" about the challenges of competing at such a high level. Huske's emotional win was complemented by fellow American swimmer Claire Walsh, who also made her Olympic debut and earned a medal. Walsh acknowledged the pressure that comes with competing on such a grand stage but expressed gratitude for the opportunity to medal in her first Olympics. "It might not have been the time I was necessarily looking for, but to even medal is something that I don't think many people get to say," she remarked. The bronze medal in the event went to China's Zhang Yufei, who has recently found herself at the center of a doping scandal involving 23 Chinese swimmers testing positive for a banned substance in early 2021. Despite the controversy, both Huske and Walsh have made history as the first Americans to win multiple medals at the Paris Games, showcasing their resilience and talent in the pool.