2 American Teenagers Qualify for Olympics in 100m Butterfly, Push World Record

By Scott McDonald On 6/14/21 at 8:31 PM EDT

Sports Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Night two of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for swimming started with a blazingly-fast race in the finals for the women's 100-meter butterfly. The two teenagers didn't just qualify for Team USA, but they threatened a world record by an iconic swimmer in the process.

Torri Huske,18, won the final on Monday night in Omaha, Nebraska, with a time of 55.66 seconds, which is just barely off the world record of Sweden's Sarah Sjostrom's mark of 55.48 set at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics.

Claire Curzan, 16, touched second Monday night with a time of 56.43, edging out Kate Douglass (56.56) and Kelsi Dahlia (56.80).

Torri Huske and Claire Curzan — Torri Huske of the United States reacts after setting an American record with Claire Curzan while competing in a semifinal heat for the Women's 100m butterfly during Day One of the 2021 U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials at CHI Health Center on June 13, 2021 in Omaha, Nebraska. Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images

The top swimmers will be named to the U.S. national team that will compete at the Tokyo Summer Olympics next month.

Huske swam the 100-meter butterfly in 55.78 seconds during her semifinal to qualify for the top seed.

Monday is the second night of the eight-day U.S. Swimming Trials, which is being held with limited fans. Other finals Monday night include the men's 100-meter breaststroke, which has 22-year-old Michael Andrew as the top seed, and the women's 400-meter freestyle, which is headlined by Katie Ledecky.

Request Reprint & Licensing, Submit Correction or view Editorial Guidelines