2025 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships
- March 19-22, 2025
- Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatics Center — Federal Way, Washington
- Short Course Yards (25 yards)
- Start Times: Prelims: 10 AM ׀ Finals: 6 PM (Pacific Daylight Time)
- Meet Central
- Official Psych Sheets
- SwimSwam Preview Index
- Live Results
- Live Stream
- Live Recaps:
Gretchen Walsh just swam to a 46.97 in the women’s 100 butterfly, resetting her own NCAA, American, Meet, and US Open records. Walsh is the only swimmer to ever break 48-seconds. That swim becomes the top SCY swim of my lifetime (post 2002 NCAAs).
Gretchen Walsh 100 Fly- 46.97
It was only four years ago that the 49-second mark was broken for the first time. Before COVID-19, no woman had ever been under 49 seconds. COVID, that’s it, COVID just happened right? Well, it was five years ago but the event has seen its record drop by almost a full two seconds in four years.
Caeleb Dressel 50 free- 17.63
One of his three records still standing, Caeleb Dressel’s 17.63 was mind boggling for the time. Although 17s have become more popular lately, at the time, the swim was historic. When Dressel swam that time, he held the top 10 performances all-time.
Katie Ledecky 500 free- 4:24.06
Ledecky’s 500 free record of a 4:24.06 from 2017 has not even been at risk. Only one other swimmer at the collegiate level has been under 4:30 as Leah Smith swam a 4:28.90 representing Virginia in 2017. No one went 4:30 this season and swimflation has come a long way in many other events.
Missy Franklin 200 free- 1:39.10
Franklin’s record still stands and it’s a decade old. Although it might not be Walsh’s primary event, even Gretchen Walsh has swam the event and did not get the record (I give her credit as due, she was so close to it). Franklin’s 1:39.10 broke her own American and NCAA records that stood at a 1:40.31. A decade later, only four women have been under 1:40.
Leon Marchand 400 IM- 3:28.82
Marchand’s 400 IM was jaw dropping back at 2023 NCAAs. With his time, he became the fastest 400 IMer by almost four seconds. The 4:30(2) barrier was broken and he swam a 3:28.82.
Dean Farris 200 Free- 1:29.15
Guys, it’s Dean Farris. Farris swam a 1:29.15 200 free in 2019 and that record went untouched until Leon Marchand and Luke Hobson both went under 1:29 at the 2024 NCAA Championships.
Simon Burnett 200 free- 1:31.20
Burnett’s record from 2006 stood untouched for ten years until Townley Haas swam to a 1:30.46. The 200 free has been deeper in recent years now with 25 men swimming under Burnett’s old mark of a 1:31.20.
Interesting comparison of Men’s SCM world records vs Women’s SCY world bests. Men’s slightly faster in most events except the IM’s and 100 back/fly/free. The event most ahead on the women’s side: 100 fly. How’s that for a model to show how dominant Walsh is, and how impressive still Ella Eastin’s swim was!
50 free. 19.90 / 20.37
100 Free 44.84 / 44.83
200 free 1:38.91 / 1:39.10
100 back 48.33 / 48.10
200 back 145.63 / 1:46.87
100 breast 55.28 / 55.73
200 breast 2:00.16 / 2:01.29
100 fly 47.71 / 46.97
200 fly 1:46.85 / 1:48.33
200 IM 1:48.88 / 1:48.37
400 IM 3:54.81 / 3:54.60
4*50 free… Read more »
David Nolan sub 1:40 2 IM? Caeleb 39.90?
Mark Spitz thinks he is faster
He was, unshaved
How about this, it’s a defining swim of her generation. She is now a one name star in her field – you say Gretchen and there is no one else anyone thinks of. The degree to which she has blown away that KD record is unbelievable. Caleb, Katie, Natalie, Leon… all are amazing . But Gretchen’s super nova is as bright as any.
What a joke.
Any list that doesn’t include Grant House’s WORLD RECORD 1-stroke 50y breaststroke is sus.
Wouldn’t you think that a record that stood for 30 years might get some mention? Jeff Kostoff’s 4:16 in 500 in high school. This high school record stood for 30 YEARS! A 4:16 for a high schooler in 1983 was insane and unheard of.
“OF MY LIFETIME”
I’m guessing the author is too young for Natalie Coughlin, definitely too young for Kostoff. Time marches on…
Yes, the article specifies “post 2002”.
I agree, add Coughlin and the list is very different.
Drop in the bucket to Jesse
Katie Ledecky 500 free- 4:24.06
Ledecky’s 500 free record of a 4:24.06 from 2017 has not even been at risk. Only one other swimmer at the collegiate level has been under 4:30 as Leah Smith swam a 4:28.90 representing Virginia in 2017. No one went 4:30 this season and swimflation has come a long way in many other events.
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If only Summer McIntosh swim college
You could add another Aussie lady’s name to your hypothetical as well but the fact remains neither of those 2 hypotheticals swam college and as such KL has no equal for her distances (yet) at a college swim level.
I still like Anya’s take on Gretchen’s 100fly swim though, it is groundbreaking and magnificent in every sense.
17.63 is better 😍