U.S. Olympic Trials, Day 2 Finals: Gretchen Walsh Scares World Record, Holds On to Secure Olympic Spot (Video)

Gretchen Walsh -- Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

U.S. Olympic Trials, Day 2 Finals: Gretchen Walsh Scares World Record, Holds On to Secure Olympic Spot

The sisters had a dream to qualify for the Olympics together. The delay of the Tokyo Games to 2021 gave Alex and Gretchen Walsh, both teenagers, more time to train and become stronger, their hopes of reaching swimming’s ultimate destination becoming more realistic.

Alex was steadily climbing the ranks in the 200 IM, but Gretchen may have been the safer bet to make the team as a sprint freestyler, with six 100 freestylers likely to be selected to the team for the 400 freestyle relay. But while Alex got the job done that week in Omaha, Neb., Gretchen faltered significantly, ending up 28th in the 100 free. She later took fifth in the 50 free, but she had to watch from home as Alex went to Tokyo and achieved a silver medal in the 200 IM.

Now, Gretchen has achieved her Olympic moment. She became a world-record holder for the first time Saturday night, blowing away Sarah Sjostrom’s 100 butterfly mark of 55.18, but a top-two finish in the final was still required to seal up her berth for the Paris Games. Twenty-four hours later, Walsh achieved that result, going out under world-record pace and hanging on for dear life to take the win by two tenths.

Even as Gretchen went to bed the fastest swimmer ever, she knew her competition in the final would be fierce, with 2022 world champion Torri Huske and Regan Smith each breaking 56 in the semifinal round, becoming the second and third-fastest swimmers in the world, respectively. Indeed, Huske was out fast and closing strong while Smith was motoring down both swimmers with every stroke.

“Going into tonight, I was definitely nervous. I had a lot of ‘What ifs’ going through my head, coming off breaking a world record and thinking, like, ‘I have to do that again, or I might miss the team,’” Walsh said. “I went into tonight knowing that I needed to stick to my race plan, stay in my lane.”

But Walsh never surrendered the lead, holding Huske and Smith at an arm’s length by the finish. Walsh touched in 55.31, just off her record but still under Sjostrom’s record (55.48).

Huske finished second in 55.52, below her previous best time of 55.64 that had been the American record before Saturday. Huske is now the third-fastest woman in history behind Walsh and Sjostrom, moving ahead of 2021 Olympic champion Maggie Mac Neil.

“That’s kind of the same as how it was at the Olympics last time,” Huske said. “I remember it was a really fast heat. Four girls were under 56. I think competition kind of brings out the best in you. That was my best time, and I was just really excited to get up and race.”

The unlucky swimmer in the field was Smith, who ended up third in 55.62, a time quicker the American record at the start of the meet and faster than the winning time at every previous World Championships. But due to the cruel nature of Olympic Trials, she will not receive an Olympic berth in the event, although Smith will be the big favorite in the 200 fly and both backstroke races later on this week.

With the win secured, Gretchen celebrated with her rivals in the pool before climbing onto the pool deck and receiving adoration from another packed house at Lucas Oil Stadium. Meanwhile, waiting for Gretchen were Alex and the sisters’ coach at the University of Virginia, Todd DeSorbo.

“I think the hug says it all. They’re so proud of me. I can say that I actually brought Todd to tears for the first time ever, which was an exciting moment for me,” Gretchen said. “Alex and Todd have been with me every step of the way since the last Trials. This was a full-circle moment for me and for them. This whole journey has been full of ups and downs, but I’m just really happy to be on such a high right now and have them with me experiencing it.”

Reflecting on the moment after qualifying for the 100 breaststroke final, Alex added, “It’s just so sweet because three years ago today, I made my first Olympic team. I told her that before she left for finals when we were listening to music and vibing together. I don’t think she had any doubt in herself that she was going to make it. I certainly didn’t. Her limits, I don’t think she’s reached them yet. She’s so consistent at the top level now, so just for me to see her achieve that dream, I think that’s been something that our whole family has been wanting to do since we were little.”

A hug that was years in the making 🥹#SwimTrials24 | @TeamUSA pic.twitter.com/sseaEdML83

— USA Swimming (@USASwimming) June 17, 2024

Back at the last Olympic Trials in June 2021, moments after Alex Walsh took care of business by a miniscule margin in the 200 IM final, she immediately thought ahead to the task Gretchen would undertake the next morning, with the rounds of the 100 free beginning. Gretchen had previously captured after winning six gold medals at the 2019 World Junior Championships, including individual golds in the 50 and 100 freestyle.

In the hours after her medley win, Alex was cautiously optimistic, but soon after she would be devastated as Gretchen faltered in her all-important prelims swim. Even more tough to swallow: Gretchen’s 2019 best time of 53.74 would have been quick enough to make the cut.

Now, the roles are reversed, with Gretchen having secured her spot while Alex will have days to wait until her best event, with the 200 IM not set to go off until Friday and Saturday. Before that, Alex also has a shot to qualify for the Olympics in the breaststroke events. Gretchen still hopes to add the sprint freestyle races to her Olympic lineup, but moving forward, she will be rooting hard for Alex, hoping make good on their goal of swimming in the Olympics together.

“It’s hard when one sibling makes it and the other doesn’t,” Alex said. “Regardless of what happens at this meet for me, we’re both Olympians now, so it feels really cool to be able to say that.”

We already know that Gretchen will travel to Paris, now established as a world-record holder and rightfully considered one of the most feared competitors in the world.

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