On a night when Gretchen Walsh won a major award to commemorate her recent past, the superstar University of Virginia swimmer was away, working toward her next feat.
Walsh virtually accepted her honor Monday as the . The 2025 graduate of the University was unable to join her fellow finalists 鈥 a collection of top female athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports 鈥 in New York for the ceremony because she was home in Charlottesville, training for the upcoming .
鈥淚 feel like I鈥檓 on cloud nine right now, honestly,鈥 Walsh said during CBS Sports Network鈥檚 live broadcast of the event. 鈥淏eing nominated for this award last year was a big deal to me. To win it this year is obviously unreal.
鈥淚 wish I could be there to celebrate. It鈥檚 interesting, this sport, it鈥檚 all year-round. It never stops. But to have these moments of knowing that all the hard work and the never-ending training is coming to fruition, it鈥檚 worth it. So, it鈥檚 really nice to have this recognition.鈥
Walsh, a two-time National Swimmer of the Year and a driving force behind 麻豆破解版 five straight NCAA championships, is the second Wahoo to win the Honda Cup in its 49-year history, joining basketball legend Dawn Staley, who was honored in 1991.
One of the most decorated swimmers in collegiate history, Walsh won seven gold medals at the NCAA championship meet in March, bringing her career total to 25. She鈥檚 set 17 world records, 38 American records and, last summer in Paris, won four Olympic medals, including a pair of golds.
She鈥檚 the ninth swimmer to win the Honda Cup and first since Stanford University鈥檚 Katie Ledecky and Simone Manuel went back-to-back in 2017 and 2018.
鈥淚 feel like this is a win for swimming as well, as much as it is for myself,鈥 Walsh said. 鈥淚 feel like I always take a lot of pride in representing the people who have come before me in the sport, especially women who have, so to be among that list of names is so cool.鈥
In addition to her athletic honors, Walsh has been a star student. The McIntire School of Commerce graduate is a three-time Academic All-American and has twice been named ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Walsh is among the ESPY Awards鈥 four nominees for 鈥淏est College Athlete 鈥 Women鈥檚 Sports.鈥 until 5 p.m., July 16, the day of the show.
