NCAA Swimming: 21-Year-Old Gretchen Walsh’s 11 Iconic Records You Probably Don’t Know

The University of Virginia Junior Gretchen Walsh, who was known for her career-best 2022 Phillips 66 US National Champion, 100 Fly, after her recent win at the NCAA Swimming Championships, has poised her to hold the top five fastest performances in the event of all time.

The 21-year-old Gretchen Walsh, who made history in last month’s ACC conference championships twice, the 2x World Champion added a feather in her cap to her other countless achievements lately. Let us dive deep into her past years’ 11 iconic accomplishments below to acknowledge the reason the American swimmer to date dominates the Olympics. Does she just thrive on pure champion energy?

NCAA Swimming Champion Walsh is someone we doff our hats to

A NCAA Swimming Champion in 100 Backstroke, 100 Freestyle, 200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay, 200 Medley Relay, and 400 Medley Relay in last year’s (2023) record books, Gretchen Walsh has also been a master in her 2022 year of competitive swimming. Year 2022 marked her as the prize winner of the 100 Freestyle, 200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay, 200 Medley Relay, and 400 Medley Relay.

Going beyond her past years’ accomplishments, she in the present year, 2024, broke all her collegiate, American, and US Open records by scoring higher than ever imagined. During the NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving championships held in March 2024, Gretchen Walsh opened with season-high41 seconds in the 50-yard swim and conquered the finals with a smashing 20.37 seconds. How is she faring up for the Olympics ahead?

Seeking greener pastures, the American swimmer aims for the Paris Olympics

Notching her third NCAA swimming title in the 200-yard individual medley, Gretchen Walsh took over her dominant position in the NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving championships lately. Her breakthrough performance in the preliminary and final 50-yard freestyle etched her closer to the win, bringing up the encouragement to sight the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Read More: Gretchen Walsh Still Thinks She Hasn’t Reached Her Potential Despite Fastest NCAA Time

Now poised to earn her Paris medal this season, the American swimmer is projected to qualify for the Summer Olympics, after earning her berth in the 100 medley relay at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships. All eyes would be on the swimming star to clinch the gold in the upcoming season.

Read More: Gretchen Walsh Etches Name in History Books at 2024 SEC Championships Shortly After Delivering the Third Fastest Swim