Virginia swimming legend Alex Walsh announced on Instagram at the start of this week that she would be returning next year for a fifth and final season. That gave a major boost to the already strong program as the Wahoos seek to extend their dynasty.
Walsh’s focus in the immediate future will be on preparing for Olympic Trials, but next year Walsh and the Cavaliers will have the opportunity to do something only two programs have ever achieved.
Prior to Walsh's arrival in the fall of 2020, Virginia had not won a single NCAA Championship in women's swimming and diving. The Hoos now have won the last four and have a chance at five next season. Since the NCAA added women's swimming and diving to its championship program in 1981-82, only two schools have ever won five straight National Championships: Texas (1984-88) and Stanford (1992-96). Interestingly enough, both of those dynasties were coached by Richard Quick.
Across her first four seasons, all Walsh has done is win. She's a 19-time NCAA Champion, 26-time ACC Champion (most in ACC History), and a 27-time All-American. On top of that, she's been a part of three relays that have set NCAA Championship records: 4x100y freestyle relay (2023), 4x50y medley relay (2023), and 4x100y medley relay (2024).
During the ACC Championships this year, Walsh set an NCAA record for the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 1:49.16. At the same event, she was a part of the 200-yard freestyle relay that set an NCAA record as well with a time of 1:23.63.
What UVA benefits from the most with Walsh's return is her contributions to relays and ability to swim multiple strokes. She has won NCAA individual titles in breaststroke (1), butterfly (1), and medley (6), where you swim all four strokes in the same race. Her versatility as a swimmer makes her a pivotal part of the Virginia relays, especially the medleys.
As mentioned earlier, Walsh is currently preparing for the U.S. Olympic Trials. In the summer of 2020, prior to stepping foot on Grounds as a Virginia student, Walsh competed in the Tokyo Olympics. She captured the silver medal in the 200 IM, losing to Japan's Yui Ohashi by 0.13 seconds. Fellow Cavalier Kate Douglass won bronze in the same event.
Joining Alex in preparation for Paris is her younger sister Gretchen. The two have become a powerhouse tandem in college swimming. Not only are they dominating the pool, but they're making a splash out of the water as well. The Walsh sisters collaborated with Sporti, a swimwear and gear company, and just launched new bathing suits within their very own line titled "Star Spangled Summer." This type of national recognition is not only good for them, but also for the Virginia swimming program as a whole.
Alex Walsh returning to the Cavaliers is a huge win for coach Todd DeSorbo. He and the entire Virginia women's swimming and diving team will look to make it five straight national titles in the 2024-25 season. Hopefully the Hoos can do just that, but not before Alex and her sister stand on some podiums in Paris.
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