Simone Manuel, Gretchen Walsh, Torri Huske and Kate Douglass showcase their silver medals after Saturday’s performance in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay. (Getty Images photo)
It didn’t take long for the University of Virginia’s athletes to make their mark on the 2024 Olympics.
Cavalier swimmers Gretchen Walsh and Kate Douglass combined to earn three silver medals during the opening weekend of the Paris Games.
Walsh, a rising fourth-year student, became one of the first competitors in Paris to receive multiple medals when she narrowly finished in second place on Sunday in the 100-meter butterfly final to fellow American Torri Huske.
On Saturday, Walsh and Douglass were part of the silver medal-winning 4x100-meter freestyle relay team. Walsh and Douglass, a UVA alumna, joined Huske and Simone Manuel to clock an American record time of 3 minutes, 30.20 seconds.
😁 Smiles for silver with Kate and Gretchen!
🔶⚔️🔷#GoHoos | #OlympiansMadeHere pic.twitter.com/DaXCAyKzsz— Virginia Cavaliers (@VirginiaSports) July 27, 2024
One for the record books 📝@TeamUSA | #Paris2024 | #OMEGAOfficialTimekeeper pic.twitter.com/ZfnazoCmUb
— USA Swimming (@USASwimming) July 27, 2024
After setting an Olympic record time in the semifinals of the 100-meter butterfly, Walsh finished 0.04 seconds behind Huske in the final.
OLYMPIC RECORD for Gretchen Walsh in the 100m butterfly semis! 😤
📺 NBC & Peacock | #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/64eStjRYl0— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 27, 2024
THE AMERICANS FINISH 1-2. 🇺🇸
Torri Huske wins gold and Gretchen Walsh grabs silver in the women's 100m fly. #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/wFPQUF5ARC— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 28, 2024
Huske, an Arlington native, invited Walsh to the top of the podium for the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” during the medal ceremony.
This is what it's about! 👏
After winning Olympic gold in the women's 100m fly, Torri Huske invited her teammate Gretchen Walsh, who got silver, on top of the podium for the U.S. national anthem. #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/HVfqznWjp7— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 29, 2024
Walsh will look to build on her spectacular Olympic debut on Tuesday when she swims in the 100-meter freestyle preliminary and semifinal races.
Douglass, who now has two career Olympic medals, is back in the pool on Wednesday for the 200-meter breaststroke preliminary and semifinal races.
University News Associate University Communications
fpa5up@virginia.edu (434) 924-6856
October 28, 2024
