Pitch Perfect: Washington Nationals Celebrate Olympic Medal-Earning Hoos

September 30, 2024
UVA’s Olympic swimmers look on Sunday as fellow decorated Hoo Alex Walsh throws out a ceremonial first pitch at Nationals Park.

UVA’s Olympic swimmers look on Sunday as fellow decorated Hoo Alex Walsh throws out a ceremonial first pitch at Nationals Park. (Washington Nationals photo)

A banner summer for the University of Virginia women’s swimming program carried into the fall on Sunday.

Cavaliers Kate Douglass, Paige Madden, Alex Walsh, Gretchen Walsh and Emma Weber, a quintet of U.S. athletes who combined to earn 11 medals at the Paris Olympics, were honored Sunday before the Washington Nationals’ season finale game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park.

All five, with medals dangling from their necks, threw out ceremonial first pitches.

Alumna Douglass, a 15-time NCAA champion while competing as a Wahoo, and current fourth-year student Gretchen Walsh each won two golds and two silvers in Paris, while alumna Madden, a four-time NCAA champion, won a silver and bronze, and third-year student Weber won a gold.

‘Inside UVA’ A Podcast Hosted by Jim Ryan
‘Inside UVA’ A Podcast Hosted by Jim Ryan

Graduate student Alex Walsh also competed for the U.S. in Paris. She’s a two-time Olympian who earned a silver medal at the Tokyo Games in 2021.

UVA’s Todd DeSorbo coached the 2024 U.S. Olympic swim team. DeSorbo’s Hoos will vie for a fifth consecutive NCAA team championship this season.

Virginia’s next meet is Oct. 18 against the University of Florida at the Aquatic and Fitness Center.

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November 25, 2024

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