Gretchen Walsh Shines at the Paris Olympics

At the Paris Olympics, Team USA’s Gretchen Walsh has made headlines by breaking the Olympic record in the women’s 100m butterfly semifinals with an impressive time of 55.38 seconds. She nearly outdid herself as she challenged her own world record of 55.18 seconds.

Fellow American swimmer Torri Huske finished close behind, recording the second-best semifinal time at 56.0 seconds.

Walsh, who is a standout at the University of Virginia, shines at the NCAA level. This year, she bagged seven NCAA titles, leading UVA to its fourth consecutive women’s swimming national championship. She also made headlines by setting records in the 50m freestyle, 100m butterfly, and the 100m freestyle.

Gretchen’s journey in swimming started early. She caught the eye of the nation when she qualified for a national junior’s competition at just 12 years old. In 2016, at the tender age of 13, she became the youngest swimmer to ever compete at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

This year, it’s truly a family affair as both Gretchen and her sister, Alex, are competing for Team USA.

Making the Olympic swim team is no easy task, and both sisters are grateful to have one another to lean on throughout their journeys.

Walsh’s recent accomplishments come on the heels of overcoming a label that once dogged her. Some skeptics labeled her a “bathtub swimmer,” suggesting she was only effective in shorter races with more walls to push off from. Walsh, however, has transformed that narrative and solidified her prowess in long-course swimming as well.

After putting in hard work with her coach, Todd DeSorbo, she found a way to adjust her training and mindset. “It took a while for me to accept that maybe I am capable of doing stuff like this,” Walsh remarked about her growth.

Her perseverance paid off as she qualified to swim at the U.S. Olympic trials in June, achieving phenomenal times that set her up for success. When she touched the wall in 55.18 seconds, it became evident that she was not just ready for the Olympic stage, but also a favorite to garner a medal in the 100-meter butterfly.

Fans can catch her compete in this highly anticipated event on Sunday when the final takes place at 2:40 p.m. ET. It’s clear that Gretchen Walsh is ready for her moment under the spotlight in Paris, as she balances a busy schedule packed with numerous races, including individual events and relay races.