2025 Pro Swim Series – Fort Lauderdale
- Wednesday, April 30 – Saturday, May 3, 2025
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center
- LCM (50 meters)
- Meet Central
- Psych Sheets
- Live Results
- Live Recaps
Gretchen Walsh had a heck of a pro debut in Ft Lauderdale. She won all 4 of her events and went best times in all 4 of them, which included 2 world records in the 100 fly and an American record in the 50 fly.
To top it all off, coming into the meet she was on the cusp of big time barriers in all 4 of her events: 53-seconds in the 100 free, 24-seconds in the 50 free, 55-seconds in the 100 fly, and 25-seconds in the 50 fly. Over the course of the 3-day meet, Walsh dipped under 3 of those barriers, with only the sub-24 second 50 free eluding her.
Reflecting on the unexpected success of the weekend, Walsh admitted that she will now have to reset her goals for the rest of the long course season.
Can we get an Alex Walsh interview!? it was her first meet as a pro and she had a crazy double with 200 BR / 200 IM
It’s coming 🙂
Because the questions are cut out it feels like being bombarded with a stream of consciousness but in a good way.
Impressive person as well as being an impressive swimmer
Breaking WR in a streak and swimming times beyond her expectations really boosts morale for her to adjust her bars higher in the LC.
individual olympic gold medal must be one, no?
I wonder how motivation Changes when swimmers accomplish their goals, like when Phelps wins 8 gold medals, Ledecky crushes world records, etc.
Kinda like how Adam Peaty’s motivation went from likely gold medals and world records to project 56 and eventually project immortality. The great thing about swimming is that there is a clock and you can always be motivated to get closer to zero
It is nice that there’s always a clock. But I think it’s also important to remember that these are humans, not robots. Chasing the clock only works for so long, especially when there are certain barriers you’re chasing (like 55 in the 100 fly) and you finally get it.
It’s really refreshing for me to hear Gretchen talk about goals that aren’t time-related because I think that’s a great way to keep your mind engaged and excited.
Isn’t individual worlds (LCM) title and individual Olympic title a strong enough motivation, no?
She hasn’t won those.
obviously it’s motivation, but it’s clear that she’s talking about times / breaking certain barriers in this interview
I’m a little bit surprised by her words. Find a new motivation for the season ? She has never been world champion in an individual event. Isn’t it a source of motivation ? Just a bronze medal on the 50 fly at the 2023 WC in Fukuoka. She should be excited. Try to win a gold medal in Singapore. She might win three individual gold medals at less.
I think you’re reading too much into those comments.
It seems, based on her other interviews, she had three time goals: Break 53 in the 100 free, 25 in the 50 fly, and 55 in the 100 fly (probably also 24 in the 50 free — which she didn’t do).
Those were probably season goals — and they’re done….by the first week of May.
If those were her “clock” goals, and she’s for the most part met them — already — what’s next?
I have little doubt she’s already on to the next — likely number of qualifications at Trials, and the times it’ll take to qualify in those events.
Exactly, I’m just adding some additional notes on your points. She flat out said “Maybe not make them time based” in reference to the goals. Near the end she talks about getting out there and racing. As you state based on this and other interviews it appears she blew away her time based goals already. So she needs to update those or as she states maybe stop worrying about time based goals at all since she seems to acknowledge with the “I have to go this time or it’s a bad swim” that they can put pressure on her and make her lose some focus on executing.
She’s just looking for ways to help her stay focused on things… Read more »
I seriously doubt 52.90 was her ultimate clock goal in the 100 free – that’s a drop of 0.13 from last summer. I’m sure 52 was the number goal but there’s a lot of range in 52 yet to accomplish — and 52.9 ain’t gonna land her on the podium in Singapore.
No it’s not, but she said after the 100 FR that she’s had a goal to break 53 since she was 16 years old. She is taking a breath to reevaluate after that and see where she needs to take things for the rest of the summer.
I think her motivation should be multiple golds in LA. A lot of stars would have to align, but the following could be possible:
50 fr
50 fly
100 free
100 fly
4 x 100 MR
4 x 100 mixed MR
4 x 100 FR
4 x 200 FR (I think she could put up a solid 1:55 if she went a 140 in SCY)
man the only one that is super wild is the 4×200. She really hasnt shown any potential in 200 LCM events and her 200s SCY are very much built in UWs. SCY 200s tend to be more “Sprinty” and LCM 200s are more “mid distance”, and in order to train for that, she may need to re focus a little bit off the sprints.
Not to mention it adds more chances for doubles depending on the schedule, which she already has the potential for a jammed packed schedule
I agree, yet I still think she could be a top 4 U.S. 200 freestyler with little change to her current training. She could theoretically go a 1:56 and that should get her a swim in 4 x 200 prelims
100 free is also a very long shot right now, even a medal is hard. 50 free/50fly possible but if sjostrom is on form its her.
4×100 free while usa can win this year, full team australia is ahead
100 free is a long shot but after what we saw last year at Paris I wouldn’t count her out to win medals and I think Walsh is probably the one right now that can challenge Sjostrom in the 50s event based on what we saw this past week especially in 50 fly.
Even her new pb would be 8th… she needs to drop at least 0,7 more to have a shot at 100
I think it’s less likely sjostrom will be in top form than Walsh. Sjostrom is taking this entire year off from competing and is currently pregnant which definitely sets her training at a disadvantage compared to Walsh. I am definitely rooting for everyone though, love to see a good race!
Sjostrom is the GOAT but I give the edge to a 25-yr-old ASCENDENT Walsh over a age 34-35 SS.
the “mixed” relays are made for tv events!
the coaches should put relay only or non medal contenders in those relays.
track and field recently added mixed 4×400 relays, and top runners rarely run unless
their individual events are finished!
let the swimmers focus on their prelims, semis, finals!
(gretchen will likely swim 12 times plus 2 relays)
Stop that.
Femke bol last lap on 4×400 was one of the biggest things on Paris
I agree!!!!
But Netherlands has smaller team, and their 400 meter runners were stacked!
Do you remember who ran US relay?
Didn’t Femke drop the baton before the finish line of mixed relay?
The medals for mixed relays are still gold, no? The medal bonuses, the record bonuses — all of those count. I think top swimmers are gonna be happy to swim those events.
Drop the 4×2 and add…. the 50 back!