Collected photo

SINGAPORE, Aug 2, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - A fit and firing Gretchen Walsh completed a butterfly double at swimming's world championships in Singapore on Saturday, romping to victory in the 50m event.

The American, who won the 100m butterfly earlier in the week, touched the wall in 24.83sec, beating Australia's Alexandria Perkins (25.31) and Belgium's Roos Vanotterdijk (25.43).

Walsh said she felt "fragile" before her 100m win after going down with a stomach bug that has swept through the American camp.

She was back to full strength for the fast and furious 50m, which will become an Olympic event for the first time at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

"I'm very proud," said the 22-year-old Walsh.

"That was a great swim, it was great to feel like myself again in the water after kind of a rocky meet, but two-time world champion, can't complain with that."

Sweden's Sarah Sjoestroem, the world record holder and a six-time world champion in the event, is not competing in Singapore.

Walsh took advantage of her absence and showed that she will be a force to reckon with in LA in three years' time.

Walsh's performance also offered a riposte to swimming legends Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte, who have been critical of the American team's displays in Singapore.

Six-time Olympic gold medallist Lochte on Friday shared an image on Instagram depicting a funeral that featured a tombstone inscribed: "In loving memory of United States Swimming."

"They set the bar high -- until they stopped reaching for it," the inscription says, Lochte adding the caption: "Call it a funeral or call it a fresh start. We've got 3 years."

Phelps, who counts a stunning 23 gold among his 28 Olympic medals, shared Lochte's post, adding: "Is this the wake-up call USA swimming needed?"