Nashville’s Gretchen Walsh qualifies for Olympics
Walsh swam the second-fastest time in history to earn her first trip to the Olympics
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Nashville swimmer Gretchen Walsh has qualified for the Olympics after winning the 100-meter butterfly race at Sunday’s U.S. Olympic Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Walsh earned her first trip to the Olympics by winning Sunday’s finals in a time of 55.31, the second-fastest time in history. It was just off the world record pace she set in Saturday’s semifinal heat.
“I’m still in shock. Making the team was the biggest goal,” Walsh said in an interview after the race. “Getting the world record was absolutely insane.”
In Nashville, Walsh swims for the Nashville Aquatic Club.
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Walsh set the world record in Saturday’s semifinal heat posting a time of 55.18, eclipsing the record set at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Gretchen’s sister Alex won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Both sisters will be competing throughout the trials.
Alex qualified for Monday’s final in the 100 meter breaststroke with a third place finish in Sunday’s semifinal.
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