Gretchen Walsh Family

Gretchen Walsh is a professional American swimmer, specializing in butterfly, individual and backstroke events. Gretchen is the world record holder in the 100 meter butterfly. She won a silver medal in the butterfly event at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris and set an Olympic record with a time of 55.38 in the preliminary rounds. Gretchen also holds two world junior records in mixed-gender relay events and American records in the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, 100-yard butterfly, 100-yard backstroke, 4×50-yard freestyle relay, 4×50-yard medley relay, 4×100-yard freestyle relay, and 4×100-yard medley relay.

In 2022, Gretchen was the fastest female freshman to swim the 50-yard freestyle in NCAA history with a time of 20.95 seconds. In 2024, she set NCAA records in the 50-yard freestyle (20.37 seconds), 100-yard freestyle (44.83 seconds), and 100-yard butterfly (47.42 seconds), winning titles in all three events. Gretchen became the youngest swimmer to qualify for the 2016 US Olympic Trials at 13, where she competed in the 50-meter freestyle, finishing with a time of 26.55 seconds and placing 125th overall. At 15, she became the youngest American female swimmer to break the 22-second barrier in the 50-yard freestyle, with a time of 21.85 seconds, surpassing previous records held by Simone Manuel and Kate Douglass.

Gretchen Walsh's Parents

Robert Walsh and Glynis Walsh are the parents of Gretchen Walsh. They have two children: Alex Walsh and Gretchen Walsh, who are both swimmers and team mates at the University of Virginia.

Who is Gretchen Walsh's Mother?

Glynis Anderson Walsh is the mother of Gretchen Walsh. She was a former collegiate swimmer and she graduated from Boston College. She was the captain of the Boston College women’s swim team back in 1993.

Who is Gretchen Walsh's Father?

Robert Walsh is the father of Gretchen Walsh. He is an alumnus of the University of Tennessee and grew up in Maryland. He works in real estate.

Who is Gretchen Walsh's Sister?

Alex Walsh is the sister of Gretchen Walsh. She is a professional American swimmer, like her sister Gretchen. SHe was born on July 31, 2001 and hails from Nashville, Tennessee, United States. She attended Old Greenwich Elementary School. She began her swimming career at age seven as a member of the Greenwich YWCA Dolphins. She attended Harpeth Hall School in Nashville, Tennessee. She specializes in Medley, Freestyle, and backstroke. She attended the University of Virginia, and she is part of her school’s swimming and diving team. In March 2014 at the Connecticut Age Group Championships, Alex was twelve and she broke three 11–12 girl's national age group records in the 100 yard individual medley, 100 yard backstroke, and 200 yard breaststroke. In August 2017, Alex competed in the Junior World Championship in Indianapolis, Indiana. She swam in the final of the 4×100 m freestyle relay and won a silver medal.

In August 2018, Alex competed at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Suva, Fiji, where she won two gold medals. Throughout her high school swimming career, she broke multiple national age group records. In 2018, she set the NISCA independent school record in the 100-yard breaststroke. In August 2019, she competed at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, and won three gold medals: two in individual events (200 m individual medley and 200 m backstroke) and one in the 4×200 m freestyle relay. Alexander was an eight-time NISCA/Speedo high school swimming All-American. In December 2019, she competed in the U.S. Open in Atlanta, Georgia. She won the silver medal in the 200 m individual medley. Her time of 2:09.01 broke the 17–18 girl's national age group record, which was previously won by Elizabeth Pelton in 2011.

Gretchen Walsh Family Pictures