Alex Walsh Still Deciding Between 200 Fly/200 Breast for Final Day of NCAAs

2025 EDDIE REESE SHOWDOWN

Alex Walsh is in a unique position heading into her final NCAA Championships. She has won NCAA titles in both the 200 fly and 200 breast, and is unsure about which she will swim on the last day of NCAA Championships this year.

Swimming the 200 fly this past weekend at the Eddie Reese Invite, Walsh swam 1:52.11 (her season best), placing 2nd behind 2x defending NCAA champion Emma Sticklen (1:49.87). The one time Walsh swam the 200 fly last season was at the ACC Championships, where she not only won but set the NCAA record at 1:49.16.

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cow from china
1 day ago

I think a good argument for 2breast is that it is easier to train concurrently with the 100 breast than the 200 fly

ArtVanDeLegh10
Reply to  cow from china
14 hours ago

Great point.

-She has less competition in the 200 breast than the 200 fly.
-Training for both breasts seems to be easier than the 1 breast and 2 fly
-I can’t imagine she’ll swim the 2 fly rather than the 2 breast

Willswim
Reply to  ArtVanDeLegh10
14 hours ago

And if she’s serious about increasing her focus on the LCM 100 BR, then sticking with the SCY 200 BR training would seem to be more beneficial to that.

Did she ever say she wanted to do that, or is it something we made up?

I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
Reply to  Willswim
13 hours ago

I don’t know if she explicitly said it but I think we can assume with her choosing the 100 breast at trials that it’s something she’s wanting to prioritize.

Viking Steve
1 day ago

Brace for impact…. Alex Walsh is coming in hot in 2025.

She seems to be in a much better mental and physical space this year and the talent has always been there.

L.L. Cool J would like to remind you in advance that when she does dominate in both SCM and LCM this summer…it will not be a comeback…she’s been here for years….

Last edited 1 day ago by Viking Steve
‘Murica
Reply to  Viking Steve
23 hours ago

Mid

Awsi Dooger
1 day ago

She should do 200 breaststroke. It’s the more elegant event, matching her persona and especially the way she swims it with the gliding technique.

Besides, in 200 butterfly there’s always the danger of kerplunk kerplunk down the stretch, way too high out of the water and blowing a lead. We already saw that. Eligible to return, albeit unlikely.

She already got revenge on that event.

1650 Onetrick
Reply to  Awsi Dooger
1 day ago

Bro what

Thomas The Tank Engine
Reply to  1650 Onetrick
1 day ago

It’s Awsi Dooger. No one should be surprised by now.

Troyy
Reply to  1650 Onetrick
1 day ago

You can say that about a lot of their comments.

Coach
Reply to  Awsi Dooger
22 hours ago

bro you think AW is picking events based on….elegance?

Eddie
1 day ago

Go for the 2 breast!! Go for Kate’s record!!!

Cannonball
1 day ago

She seems like a huge team player, and the 200 fly is a weaker event for the cavaliers than the 200 breast. Wouldn’t be surprised if Canny or Weber ~could~ down in the 2:04s, which might actually win the event this season.

+ If the team wants to try and sweep the titles, which if the stars align they very well could, Sticklen is the bigger obstacle (and the last ind event, how poetic! can you imagine they sweep up until then?). Luckily, Alex seems up for the challenge.

Go for it!

ArtVanDeLegh10
Reply to  Cannonball
1 day ago

UVA is winning either way so it will likely be whatever she wants to swim.

Walsh-Madden-Grimes-Weinstein
Reply to  Cannonball
21 hours ago

Nope!

The University of Virginia women’s swimming program won the NCAA DI Championship title last year with zero points from the W 1650 FR. Who cares if the 200 FL is the weaker event? In addition, neither A. Canny or E. Weber is winning the W 200 BR.

The objective is to maximize points at the NCAA DI Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships and Alex Walsh has a better shot at winning the W 200 BR than the W 200 FL.

NoFastTwitch
1 day ago

Pull a Burns and do them both!

(I know he did back and not breast, but it was on the same day as the fly)

DMSWIM
Reply to  NoFastTwitch
14 hours ago

As someone whose best events included both, I support this! (Although I only ever tried it at a midseason invite.)

JimSwim22
Reply to  DMSWIM
13 hours ago

My choice was either this double or the 1650 and one of these 200s.

James Beam
Reply to  NoFastTwitch
14 hours ago

the dirty double dream couple!

Comfy Pants
1 day ago

Terrific problem to have.

Reid
1 day ago

I think she should go 200 breast because swimming just 100 of one stroke and just 200 of another is icky

swimp
Reply to  Reid
1 day ago

KD would like a word.

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