Gretchen Walsh
World Records
• 100 SCM Individual Medley (55.98), dual meet vs Florida (10/18/24)
• 100 Butterfly (55.18), 2024 US Olympic Trials (6/15/24)
• Mixed 4×100 Medley Relay (3:37.43), 2024 Paris Olympics
• 4×100 Medley Relay (3:49.63), 2024 Paris Olympics
2024 Olympic Games
• Gold: 4×100 relay, mixed 4×100 medley relay
• Silver: 100 fly, 4×100 free relay
• World Records:mixed 4×100 medley relay (3:37.43), 4×100 medley relay (3:49.63)
• Olympic Record: 100 fly (55.38)
• 4th Place: 50 free
2024 U.S. Olympic Trials
• Qualified for Team USA in the 100 fly, 50 free and 4×100 relay
• Set the World Record (55.18) in the semifinals of the 50 free
• Was second in the 50 free
NCAA Champion (18)
2024: 200 Medley Relay, 50 Free, 200 Free Relay, 100 Fly, 400 Medley Relay, 100 Free, 400 Free Relay
2023: 100 Back, 100 Free, 200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay, 200 Medley Relay, 400 Medley Relay
2022: 100 Free, 200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay, 200 Medley Relay, 400 Medley Relay
All-American (21)
2024: 200 Medley Relay, 50 Free, 200 Free Relay, 100 Fly, 400 Medley Relay, 100 Free, 400 Free Relay
2023: 50 Free, 100 Back, 100 Free, 200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay, 200 Medley Relay, 400 Medley Relay
2022: 50 Free, 100 Free, 100 Back, 200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay, 200 Medley Relay, 400 Medley Relay
ACC Champion (16)
2024: 400 Free Relay, 100 Free, 100 Fly, 400 Medley Relay, 800 Free Relay, 200 Free Relay, 50 Free
2023: 50 Free, 200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay, 200 Medley Relay, 400 Medley Relay
2022: 200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay, 200 Medley Relay, 400 Medley Relay
All-ACC (21)
2024: 400 Free Relay, 100 Free, 400 Medley Relay, 100 Fly, 800 Free Relay, 200 Free Relay, 50 Free
2023: 50 Free, 100 Fly, 100 Free, 200 Medley Relay, 200 Free Relay, 400 Medley Relay, 400 Free Relay
2022: 50 Free, 100 Free, 100 Back, 200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay, 200 Medley Relay, 400 Medley Relay
2022 Phillips 66 US National Champion – 100 Fly
2024-25
• Set a world record and four American SCM records in the dual meet against Florida: World & American record: 100 IM (55.98); American records: 50 Back (25.37), 100 Back (54.89), 50 Free (23.10)
• Named the ACC Swimmer of the Week after her record-breaking performance against Florida (10/22)
• Won the 50 Free with a time of 20.84 against North Carolina. Finished first in the 100 Fly with a time of 48.43 against North Carolina which was 4.45 seconds ahead of 2nd place
• Earned her second ACC Swimmer of the Week honor for her performance against UNC (11/5)
• 2024-25 US National Team member, qualified in the 50/100 Free and 100 Fly
• Selected to compete at the 2024 World Aquatics Short Course Swimming Championships (25m) Dec. 10-15 in Budapest, Hungary
2023-24 – Virginia
• 2024 CSCAA Women’s Swimmer of the Year
• 2024 Honda Award winner for Swimming & Diving
• 2024 ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for Swimming and Diving
• Named the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Mary Garber Award Winner which is presented to the ACC female student-athlete of the Year
• First-team Academic All-American
• Finalist (along with sister Alex) for Honda Award for swimming and diving
• Won seven NCAA titles to help UVA to fourth consecutive NCAA team title
• At NCAAs, set American, US Open & NCAA records in the 50 free (20.37), 100 fly (47.42) and 100 free (44.83)
• Won 100 free (44.83) with American, NCAA and US Open record time
• Helped 400 medley relay team set NCAA record (3:21.01) at NCAA Championships
• Also part of NCAA champ relays for 200 medley relay (1:31.58) and 400 free relay
• Her leadoff split in 200 medley relay was the fastest (22.10) 50 back split ever
• Named Most Valuable Swimmer at ACC Championships
• Won 400 free relay (3:07.34) at ACC Championships
• Set meet, pool, ACC, American, NCAA, and US Open record in 100 free (45.16) at ACC Championships
• Part of first-place 400 medley relay (3:22.49) at ACC Championships
• Set meet, pool, ACC, NCAA, American, and US Open records in 100 butterfly (48.25) at ACC Championships and won her fourth gold of the 2024 Championships
• Set meet, ACC, pool, NCAA, American, and US Open records in 50 free (20.57)
• Part of the first-place 200 relay (1:23.63) that set pool, meet, ACC, US Open, and NCAA records at ACC Championships
• Part of the first-place, ACC championship record, 800 free relay (6:46.28) at ACC Championships
• ACC swimmer of the week 1/23, 11/21, 10/31, and 10/17
• Swam 1:52.34 in 200 IM at Cavalier Invite to register event’s No. 3 all-time performance
• Turned in the fastest split in history for the 50 fly with a mark of 21.50 in her leg of the relay at UNC/NC State meet
• Set UVA record (20.19) with 50 Free time in the 200 Free relay vs. UNC and NC State and that ranked as fastest 50 Free split of all time
• Took first in the 100 free and set an AFC pool record with her time of 46.40 at UNC/NC State meet
• Took first in the 400 Free Relay with a time of 3:13.04 at UNC/NC State meet
• Finished second in the 100 free with a time of 53.64 at TYR Pro Swim Series
• Finished first in the 100 fly with a time of 56.78 at TYR Pro Swim Series
• Led Virginia’s sweep in the 100-yard breast placing first with a time of 59.75 against Virginia Tech
• Finished on the podium in third place earning bronze with a time of 56.85 for the 100 fly in the Toyota U.S. Open
• Fourth overall in the 50-meter freestyle with a time of 24.42 at Toyota U.S. Open
• Set an unofficial American, NCAA & US Open record in the 100-yard butterfly (48.30) at Tennessee Invite
• Set Virginia swimming record in the 400-yard freestyle relay (45.18) at Tennessee
• Won the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:33.69 at Tennessee Invite
• Blasted a UVA and meet record time of 1:41.32 to win 200 free at Tennessee Invite
• Improved fastest time this season and in the NCAA with a 1:25.24 to win the 200-yard freestyle relay at Tennessee Invite
• Set a meet record in the 400-yard medley relay (3:26.15) at Tennessee Invite
• Won the 400-yard medley relay in 3:27.56 against Texas
• Won the 100 free (46.42) against Texas. Her time eclipses her own best time of the season so far in the NCAA
• Won the 400-yard free relay in 3:12.74 against Texas
• Won the 200-yard medley relay in a time of 1:34.32 against Texas
• Swam a pool record time of 20.95 to win the 50 free against Texas
• Crushed the UVA pool record and had the fastest time in the NCAA this season to win the 100-yard butterfly in 49.11 against Texas
• Won the 100-yard backstroke in 50.29 and the 100-yard freestyle in 47.19 against Florida. Both times are the fastest in each event so far this season.
• Named to College Sports Communicators’ Academic All-America First Team
• An ACC All-Academic selection
• Named a first-team 2024 CSCAA Scholar All-American
• Earned “Swimmer of the Year” Award at annual banquet
• Earned Women’s Performance of the Year: NCAA Championships 47.42 100 Butterfly win at annual banquet
• ACC Academic Honor Roll
2022-23
• Won gold for USA in the 100 medley relay at the World Championships
• Placed second in the 100 free relay at the World Championships
• Placed third in the 50 fly at the World Championships
• Placed eighth in the 100 fly at the World Championships
• Placed 11th in the 50 free at the World Championships
• Won the 50 fly at Nationals, qualifying her for the World Championships
• Placed third in the 100 free at Nationals, qualifying her for the World Championships
• Won the 100 back at NCAAs
• Won the 100 free at NCAAs
• Placed second in the 50 free at NCAAs
• Swam the second leg of the the first place 200 free relay team at NCAAs
• Swam the final leg of the first place 400 free relay team at NCAAs
• Swam the opening leg of the first place 200 medley relay team at NCAAs
• Swam the opening leg of the first place 400 medley relay team at NCAAs
• Won the 50 free setting meet, conference, American, NCAA, and pool records at ACC Championships
• Swam the opening leg of the 400 medley relay, placing first and setting meet, conference, American, NCAA, and pool records at ACC Championships
• Swam the second leg of the 200 free relay, placing first and setting meet, conference, American, NCAA, and pool records at ACC Championships
• Swam the first leg of the 200 medley relay, placing first and setting meet, conference, American, NCAA, and pool records at ACC Championships
• Won the 50 free, 100 back, and 100 free at the Tennessee Invitational
• Won the 100 free against Texas
• Won the 50 free and 100 fly against Florida
• All-ACC Academic Team
• ACC Academic Honor Roll
• SCAA Scholar All-America First Team
2021-2022
• Won the 100 free and placed second in the 50 free and 100 back at NCAA Championships
• Part of NCAA Champion 200 free relay
• Set NCAA, Meet, American, US Open and pool records in the 400 free relay and 400 medley relay at NCAA Championships
• Part of the ACC Champion 200 free relay, 200 medley relay, 400 free relay and 400 medley relay
• Runner-up in the 50 free, 100 free and 100 back at ACC Championships
• Won the 200 medley relay, 100 back and 100 free against NC State
• Won the 400 medley relay, 50 free and 100 fly against North Carolina
• Won the 400 medley relay, 100 free and 200 free relay against Texas
• Won the 200 free against Army
• Won four events in collegiate debut at California to earn ACC Swimmer of the Week•
• CSCAA Scholar All-American
• All-ACC Academic Team
• ACC Academic Honor Roll
BACKGROUND
• Competed at the 2021 US Olympic Trials
• National High School Record Holder in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle
• Eight-time individual Tennessee State Champion
• Two-time Tennessee Female Swimmer of the Year (2020-2021)
• Two-time Tennessee Athlete of the Year (2020-2021)
• Junior National Team Member (2018)
• National Team Member (2019-2021)
• Two-time Individual Gold Medalist at Junior World Championships (2019)
• Scholastic Writing Award (2020)
• Third Honors (2021)
PERSONAL
• Parents are Glynis and Robert Walsh
• Has one sister, Alex
• Recipient of the 2022-23 Juliana Schulte O’Reilly and Brian T. O’Reilly Bicentennial Scholarship
• Commerce major