Ten members of the UVA Swimming program will represent USA Swimming in the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships, which take place next August.
Seven of the 10 are current UVA student-athletes; three are UVA alums.
Gretchen Walsh and Kate Douglass were two of six women to qualify for four or more events. Also earning invitations are Jack Aikins, Claire Curzan, Katie Grimes, Leah Hayes, Thomas Heilman, Tess Howley, Alex Walsh and Emma Weber.
This will be the first time competing at the Pan-Pacs for all of the Cavalier swimmers.
ICYMI: UVA Swimming controversy
- UVA Swimming coach Gary Taylor on probation after admitting to emotional abuse of athletes
- D1 swimmer: ‘It was hard for me to go to practice every day and face Gary Taylor’
- UVA extended contract of coach two weeks after he was put on probation
- Former Y swimmer: Unable to get through practice ‘without planning how I’d end my life’
- UVA All-American: ‘The kids that quit at Cavalier Aquatics had horrible attitudes’
- I gave UVA Athletics a chance to make amends on the coach misconduct story: They don’t wanna
The roster was comprised based on results of the 2025 World Aquatics Championships, World Aquatics Junior Championships, World University Games, Toyota National Championships and TYR Summer Championships.
“It was exciting to watch this roster come together across five competitions this summer, and it will be great for these athletes to represent our country on home soil next August,” said USA Swimming National Team Managing Director Greg Meehan.
“Selecting the team from results this summer allows these athletes and their coaches to train and prepare for one primary competition in the summer of ’26. I’m confident in this team as we look ahead to Irvine, which will be the first senior international competition on U.S. soil since 2010. This meet should play a huge role in the lead-up to a home Olympics in LA28,” Meehan said.
UVA Swimming at the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships
| Name | Events | Grad Year |
| Jack Aikins | 200 Back | 2026 |
| Claire Curzan | 50/100/200 Back | 2026 |
| Kate Douglass | 50/100 Free; 100/200 Breast; 50 Fly | 2023 |
| Katie Grimes | 400 Im | 2028 |
| Leah Hayes | 200/400 IM | 2028 |
| Thomas Heilman | 100/200 Fly | 2029 |
| Tess Howley | 200 Fly | 2027 |
| Alex Walsh | 100/200 Breast; 200 IM | 2025 |
| Gretchen Walsh | 50/100 Free; 50/100 Fly | 2025 |
| Emma Weber | 50/100 Breast | 2026 |
Support AFP
Share
Chris Graham
