"Gretchen Walsh single-handedly bankrupting World Aquatics": "This is Insane"- Fans react as American breaks 11 world records at World Championships

Gretchen Walsh left fans in disbelief by breaking 11 world records over the six days at the 2024 World Short Course Swimming Championships. The Olympic champion also won seven gold medals at the meet, becoming the first female American swimmer to win seven gold medals at one global championship meet.

Walsh won gold medals in the 50m butterfly and 50m freestyle events, breaking the world record twice in each event. She also won the 100m freestyle, butterfly, and individual titles, breaking world records in each except the 100m free, where she clocked second and third fastest times in history. She broke the record twice in the 100m IM and thrice in the 100m fly.

The 21-year-old also won gold medals in the 4x100m relay and 4x100m medley relay, breaking the world record in each once. It was the most number of world records broken by a swimmer in history at a single meet, overtaking Michael Phelps and Mark Spitz, each of whom have broken seven at the Olympic Games.

Walsh left fans in disbelief with her performance making a buzz all over social media. A fan termed her achievement insane and wrote:

"I know there's been alot of progression in swimming technology but this is still so insane. Didn't ledecky do this like 6 months ago."

Another fan expressed disbelief in the American swimmer's achievement, writing:

"Gretchen Walsh with 10 individual WRs not for a career but in one meet."

Here are some more reactions:

"Witnessing Gretchen Walsh complete one of the greatest world championship performances of all time," a fan wrote.

"Gretchen Walsh single handle bankrupting world aquatics with all those world records," another fan joked as Walsh prized home over $290k from the meet.

"Are all these records at one meet? Is there something off with the pool?," a user questioned.

"Check the pool check the swimmers what's going on," a user wrote.

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Gretchen Walsh earned prize money more than every other country except United States at the World Championships

Swimming - Olympic Games Paris 2024 - Source: Getty

World Aquatics awards $25,000 for each world record performance and with her 11 records, two of which were in the relay, Gretchen Walsh took home a staggering $237,500 from the six-day competition. For her 11 gold medals, the American swimmer earned $52,916, making her total prize money $290,416.

It was the most by any other swimmer as well as country except the United States, which took home $974,000 with Canada in second place with 241,000. Walsh's compatriot Regan Smith won the second-highest amount at $142,500.