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US’ Gretchen Walsh (L) competes in a semifinal of the women’s 100m butterfly swimming event during … [+]
Gretchen Walsh has been making noise since the beginning of the 2024 swimming season. In yard-pool, taking full advantage of her flexibility and using her underwater dolphin kickouts at the 2024 NCAA championships, she claimed seven titles while breaking records in four events. Shortly after, came the US Olympic trials. Walsh, who failed to make it to the 2021 Olympics and 2022 World Championships, overcame her fear of a previous few long-course swims. Tweaking her technique to add the extra length and strength she needed in her strokes.
Proving to everyone that she is more than just “a bathtub swimmer,” Walsh joined Team U.S.A. in Paris, qualifying for 50 free, 100 fly (with a new LCM world record of 55.18), and 4×100 relay at the trials. At her debut Olympics, the 21-year-old swimmer’s “dream” came true, winning an Olympic medal “for America.” As what seems a norm now, Walsh maintained her record-breaking manner and achieved two of her Olympic golds with records (mixed 4×100 medley relay (3:37.43), 4×100 medley relay (3:49.63), and two silver medals in individual events 100 fly (55.38, Olympic record) and 4×100 free relay, respectively.
After Paris, nothing changed. Walsh continued to break records in yard pools for college meets, but her best performance was yet to come. Walsh’s true swimming prowess was highlighted at 2024 Short-Course Championships in Budapest. Interestingly, months before the event in a lone 25-meter race dual meet against Florida, Walsh broke three American records and set a new world record in 100 IM, giving the fans an idea of what to expect in Budapest. But the swimmer exceeded everyone’s expectations and cemented herself as one of the most successful short-course swimmers at the championships.
She claimed the most number of wins at the 2024 Short-Course Championships. With 11 records and seven gold medals, the Virginia University senior made history to set the most records by one swimmer in a single meet. The previous record was held by two of the most successful athletes in the swimming world. Michael Phelps’ Olympic run of 2008 where he won 8 gold medals and registered 7 record-breaking wins, and Mark Spitz’s historic seven gold medals, all of which broke records at the 1972 Olympics.
Apart from the 100-meter freestyle gold, all of Walsh’s wins broke either one or multiple records. Walsh’s final result in Budapest included:
50-meter freestyle: gold (two world records)
100m freestyle: gold (second-, third-fastest times in history)
50-meter butterfly: gold (two world records)
100-meter butterfly: gold (three world records)
100-meter individual medley: gold (two world records)
4×100-meter freestyle relay: gold (one world record)
4×100-meter medley relay: gold (one world record)
Although Walsh had a successful breakout in the long-course pool in Paris, the 21-year-old’s short-course performances still remain unmatched. In the short-course, which is 60% underwater, Walsh, whose main strength lies in her speed, took full advantage of quick turns and created history. Walsh, who led the Virginia Cavaliers towards their fourth consecutive national title in the spring, has been a great NCAA swimmer. As the short-course pool is only slightly longer than the 25-yard pool, she was successful in carrying the momentum.
How Much Money Did Gretchen Walsh Make?
Gretchen Walsh of United States of America shows the cheque for $25,000 received for setting the … [+]
Interestingly, with these wins also came a large amount of money. As per the World Aquatics, every individual or relay record helps earn $25,000. Furthermore, swimmers also earn a bonus of $10,000 for a double crown, i.e., winning an entire event throughout all stops of the World Cup and World Championships.
With Walsh’s nine individual records at the Short-Course Championships, she claimed a staggering amount of $225,000. Additionally, her two relay record wins helped her win $6,250 from each. (the money is split between the participants of the relay.) As per the World Aquatics, Walsh is the fourth “highest-earning swimmer of 2024, based solely on prize money and performance bonuses at World Aquatics events,” claiming a total of $275,000.00.
Courtesy of Walsh, Regan Smith, Kate Douglass, and Luke Hobson’s record-altering performance, with a tally of 18 gold, 13 silver, and 8 bronze medals, Team U.S. also won the best team award.
Overall the 2024 season has been truly great for Walsh. From overcoming the fear of never achieving a win in a long-course pool to creating history in Paris and Budapest, she has maintained constant outings till the end of the year. Certainly the 25-meter wins are different than achieving podium finishes in 50-meter meets. Nonetheless, is Walsh currently the greatest swimmer in short-course? Definitely.
The big question is whether the swimmer will be able to maintain her momentum at the 2025 Worlds. Amid the competition from teammate Torri Huske and Swedish legend Sarah Sjostrom, the fans will be interested to see if Gretchen Walsh can again showcase her prowess in the 50-meter pools after her breakthrough in Paris.
