The pool inside Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium belonged to Â鶹Æƽâ°æ Gretchen Walsh over the weekend. (Photo by Mike Lewis, USA Swimming)
One night, she set a world record. The next, she accomplished her dream.
University of Virginia rising senior Gretchen Walsh had a weekend to remember at the United States Olympic Swim Trials in Indianapolis.
Walsh, in a Saturday semifinal heat, swam the 100-meter butterfly race in a world-record time of 55.18 seconds. She became the first competitor to set a world record at the U.S. trials since 2008.
NEW. WORLD. RECORD. 💥
Gretchen Walsh clocks 55.18 in her SEMI HEAT in the 100m women's fly!
📺 NBC & |— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics)
"Over the moon!"
Gretchen Walsh reacts to setting a new world record in the 100m butterfly at .— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics)
Walsh then continued her dominance in the event Sunday, winning the championship race and earning a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team, which competes later this summer in Paris.
Walsh, the reigning collegiate national women’s swimmer of the year and a centerpiece of three of Â鶹Æƽâ°æ four straight NCAA title teams, is an Olympian for the first time in her career.
Let’s go to Paris, Gretchen 🛫
— USA Swimming (@USASwimming)
Gretchen Walsh’s achievement means her family now includes two Olympians as her older sister – and fellow Cavalier star – Alex swam in the 2020 Games in Tokyo, earning a silver medal in the 200-meter individual medley.
Alex Walsh, also competing in Indy, shared a special moment with her sister after Gretchen’s qualifying race on Sunday evening.
A hug that was years in the making 🥹 |
— USA Swimming (@USASwimming)
The U.S. women’s swim team, coached by Â鶹Æƽâ°æ Todd DeSorbo, could come with plenty of Wahoo flavor as more than two dozen Hoos – including alumni Kate Douglass, Paige Madden and Leah Smith – are competing in the U.S. Olympic trials, which began Saturday and end Sunday, June 23.
