Eight members of the UVA Swimming program have earned invites to the 2025 World Championships, led by Gretchen Walsh, who qualified for four individual events and one relay.
The invites were announced by USA Swimming at the conclusion of the 2025 Toyota National Championships, which wrapped on Saturday at the Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis.
UVA swimmers won two of the three women’s event finals on the last day of competition, with Gretchen Walsh winning the 50m Freestyle, and her sister, Alex Walsh, winning the gold in the 200m Individual Medley.
Alex Walsh had the fastest time in prelims (2:10.92) in the 200 IM and clocked the second-fastest time in the world this year in the final (2:08.45) to pick up her first title of the meet.
Gretchen Walsh won the 50 Free with a 23.91. The time tied the American record set by Kate Douglass at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships.
Douglass was third (24.04) and Maxine Parker fifth (24.41).
Douglass was awarded the women’s High Point Award with 88 points over the five-day meet. Douglass won two golds (100 and 200 Breast), a silver (50 Fly), a bronze (50 Free) and finished fourth in the 100 Free.
Gretchen Walsh finished the meet with three golds (50 Free, 50 and 100 Fly) and a silver (100 Free) in her four events.
Gretchen Walsh will compete in four individual events and the 4×100 Free Relay at the Worlds. Kate Douglass qualified for three events and a relay. Alex Walsh qualified for two events, with Claire Curzan, Jack Aikins, Katie Grimes and incoming freshman Thomas Heilman qualifying for one individual event apiece. Anna Moesch earned a relay invitation.
The World Aquatics Championships runs July 27 through Aug. 3.
The national meet also served as a qualifier for the World University Games, being held July 17-23 in Berlin. Seven Cavaliers earned a place on Team USA for that event: Katie Christopherson, Maxine Parker, Leah Hayes, Cavan Gormsen, Tess Howley, David King and Emma Weber.
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Chris Graham
