In Federal Way, Washington, an impressive triumph unfolded as Virginia’s Gretchen Walsh and Claire Curzan shattered NCAA records to secure individual titles, propelling the Cavaliers to their fifth consecutive women’s swimming and diving championship, equaling the historical record. Curzan established a new benchmark in the 200-yard backstroke with an extraordinary performance clocking in at 1 minute, 46.82 seconds. Not to be outdone, Walsh surpassed her own previous record in the 100 freestyle with a swift 44.71 seconds. Curzan notably made history as the first athlete to claim individual NCAA victories for two distinct schools, having previously triumphed in the 200 backstroke with Stanford in 2023.
The Cavaliers ended the championship with an impressive total of 544 points, comfortably surpassing their closest competitors, Stanford, who accumulated 417 points. This victory places Virginia in an elite group, alongside Texas (1984-88) and Stanford (1992-96), as the only schools to achieve the milestone of five consecutive national titles.
The championship witnessed several remarkable feats by the Cavaliers, with five team members claiming gold medals. Gretchen Walsh took the spotlight with a total of six gold medals, while Claire Curzan contributed four. Walsh made headlines with extraordinary performances, setting both NCAA and American records in multiple events, including the 100 butterfly with a timing of 46.97 seconds, in addition to her prowess in the 100 freestyle. The duo also played crucial roles in Virginia’s 200 medley relay team, which earned victory with a dazzling record-breaking time of 1:31.1.
Several other competitors also left their mark on the championships. Texas’ Jillian Cox claimed victory in the 1,650-yard freestyle, finishing in 15:33.54. Stanford’s Lucy Bell emerged victorious in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:04.28, while Indiana’s Skyler Liu dominated the platform diving, accumulating 382.15 points. Virginia’s excellence also extended to the 400 freestyle relay, which they won in 3:06.01. Texas swimmer Emma Sticklen notched an NCAA record in the 200 butterfly with a remarkable 1:49.11.
The thrilling four-day competition took place at the esteemed Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatics Center, which hosted a spectacle of athletic prowess and competitive spirit.
