Virginia swimmers Gretchen Walsh and Kate Douglass made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics by winning a silver medal in the 4×100 freestyle relay for Team USA. They set an American record with a time of 3:30.20, but Australia took the gold with an Olympic record time of 3:28.92. This was Walsh’s first Olympic medal, while Douglass previously won bronze in the 200 IM at the Tokyo Olympics.
Walsh also made headlines by breaking an Olympic record in the semifinals of the 100 butterfly with a time of 55.38 seconds. This was the third time she has recorded the fastest times in the event. Another former Virginia swimmer, Paige Madden, qualified for the final in the 400 freestyle and placed sixth with a time of 4:02.26.
The success of these Virginia swimmers at the Paris Olympics highlights the strong swimming program at the university. Their achievements exemplify the talent and dedication of the swimmers who come out of Virginia, making the school proud. Fans are eagerly anticipating more standout performances from these athletes and are confident that they will continue to shine on the international stage. Congratulations to Gretchen Walsh, Kate Douglass, and Paige Madden on their impressive performances at the Olympics, representing Virginia with pride.
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