Gretchen Walsh Nominated for ESPY Award After Dynamic Career at UVA
Former University of Virginia standout Gretchen Walsh has been nominated for an ESPY award, selected in the category of Best Collegiate Athlete – Women’s Sports. Walsh was chosen as a nominee after another record-breaking season for the Cavaliers, who captured their fifth consecutive NCAA team championship.
At the NCAA Championships, Walsh captured individual titles in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly and was a member of four Virginia relays that claimed national crowns. Walsh established NCAA records in the 100 freestyle and 100 fly. During the college campaign, Walsh also starred for Team USA at the World Short Course Championships, where she set multiple world records and won gold medals in the 50 free, 100 free, 50 butterfly, 100 fly and 100 individual medley.
Walsh is currently preparing for next month’s World Championships in Singapore, where she will contest the 50 free, 100 free, 50 fly and 100 fly. Walsh is the world-record holder in the 100 fly, having lowered that standard to 54.60. She is the only woman in history to break the 55-second barrier in the event.
Walsh was joined as an ESPY nominee by North Carolina soccer standout Kate Faasse, Pittsburgh volleyball star Olivia Babcock and Southern Cal basketball standout JuJu Watkins.
The ESPY Awards will air on ESPN on July 16.