There aren’t many sporting events that beat out competing at the Olympics every four years. And for Olympic bound swimmers Alex and Gretchen Walsh, it’s an opportunity they don’t take for granted.
Alex, 22, and the eldest sister, secured her spot in the Paris Games after finishing second in the 200 individual medley at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials in June. She earned a silver medal in the same event at the Tokyo Games. Gretchen, 21, who failed to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics, earned her spot in this year’s Summer Games after winning the 100 butterfly at trials a month ago.
Now, with both sisters on the Olympic stage, they will seek to bring home gold medals and will be one of two sets of siblings—brother and sister duo Aaron and Alex Shackell—to compete on the U.S. Olympic swimming team for the first time since the 2004 Summer Games in Athens. Klete Keller and his sister, Kalyn, competed for U.S. swim team at the Athens Games as well as Tara and Dana Kirk.
But before the swimming competition begins, it’s important to note where the Walshs’ attained their superb swimming pedigree. What does the Walshs’ family tree look like? Here's an account of the most important branches to the their success in the swimming pool.
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Is Alex Walsh related to Gretchen Walsh?
Alex is the older sister to Gretchen. Currently, both sisters are attending school at the University of Virginia. Growing up, the two spent a dozen hours each day swimming in the pool at the Rocky Point Club. While Alex and Gretchen will display their talents on the international stage in Paris, their paths are different.
Alex is seeking to build on her performance from the Tokyo Games where she won a silver medal in the 200 individual medley. From there, she became a world champion in the individual medley in 2022 and a five-time individual NCAA champion to list a few of her achievements.
Gretchen was the youngest swimmer to ever compete in the U.S. Olympic swimming trials in 2016 at the age of 13. However, she failed to qualify for the Tokyo Games with her sister. She used that as motivation in preparation for the Paris Games. Gretchen has won seven NCAA titles to help guide UVA to a national championship this year. In 2023, she notched NCAA, U.S. Open and America records in the 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly and the 100 freestyle.
At UVA, the elder sister is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in computer science with a minor in psychology while Gretchen is earning a degree in finance with a minor in math. Away from the pool, Alex has a love for coding, designing swim suits and music from Zach Bryan and Tyler Childers. Gretchen, on the other hand, loves a good episode of Game of Thrones.
Alex and Gretchen Walsh parents
Glynis Walsh
Glynis is the mother to Alex and Gretchen. Her daughters’ swimming skills derive from her skillfulness in the water. In 1993, she served as the captain of the Boston College women’s swim team.
Robert Walsh
Robert is the father of the two sisters. He is an alum of the University of Tennessee. Together, Robert and Glynis made sacrifices for their daughters to live out their swimming dreams. After swimming for the YWCA Dolphins and Chelsea Piers Aquatic Club while living in Connecticut, they moved back to Nashville, allowing the girls to compete in the Nashville Aquatic Club.
Where are Alex and Gretchen Walsh from?
Alex and Gretchen were born in Nashville, Tennessee. However, the Walsh family moved to Old Greenwich, Connecticut before returning to Nashville in 2014 when Alex was 12 and Gretchen was 11. The two sisters attended Harpeth Hall High School and produced prolific careers. Gretchen produced two national high school records in the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle among other accolades. Alex was an eight-time NISCA/Speedo high school swimming All-American, won three gold medals at the 2019 Pan American Games and two gold medals at the 2018 Junior Pan Pacific Championships.
