Gretchen Walsh Joins Elite Company as UVA Swimmers Dominate World Championships

The University of Virginia women’s swimming program continued its world domination over the weekend.

Gretchen Walsh, a senior for the Cavaliers, was named the Best Female Swimmer at the 2024 World Aquatics 25M Championships in Budapest, Hungary, after setting 11 world records (nine individual, two relay) and winning seven world titles (five individual, two relay) throughout the six-day meet. 

Walsh is one of six U.S. swimmers ever to win four or more titles at a single global championship, joining Mark Spitz, Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Katie Ledecky and Caleb Dressel.

Virginia swimmers left Budapest setting a combined 14 world records (11 individual and three relay), winning 10 world titles (seven individual and three relay). They set 18 American records and won a combined 25 medals (16 gold, five silver, four bronze).

Alumna Kate Douglass finished the meet with seven medals (four gold, two silver, one bronze), two individual world records (200-meter individual medley and 200-meter breaststroke) and two relay world records.

The World Aquatics 25M Championships were held in a 25-meter-pool – half the length of an Olympic-size pool.