Gretchen Walsh on Swimming Underwater to 15m: “Even I get nervous about how far I’m going”

2024 SC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Gretchen Walsh is now world famous for her underwater swimming, having broken a number of world records at the short course world championships last week. After one of her races, Walsh admitted that even though she does want to push her underwater swimming off each wall to the 15m mark, she gets nervous about getting DQed and even cuts her kick count short if she thinks she’s cutting it too close.

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The unoriginal Tim
1 month ago

Perhaps the 15m line should be painted on the bottom of the pool. Not sure how useful it would be though. Presumably most people train a specific number of kicks but I guess when the adrenaline is really pumping it might be possible to go slightly further on the same number of kicks.

John Pero
Reply to  The unoriginal Tim
30 days ago

In a short (25 yd) pool it is easy for a swimmer of Gretchen’s caliber to go wall to wall underwater so it is something that she and others have to know where they are. As a NFHS official I have seen violations even at the high school level. But also as an official I have seen subpar markings on deck for us to watch.

mahmoud
1 month ago

that’s the only thing she’s good at. can’t even crack 24 seconds or 53 in the lcm freestyle events

VA Steve
Reply to  mahmoud
1 month ago

Laughing, is that all you have? Her fly is a preview of coming attractions.

LM01
Reply to  mahmoud
1 month ago

Her best times are 24.0 and 53.0 so are you concerned that she didn’t swim a tenth faster? She’s only 21 and long course season hasn’t even started yet. She’s been improving in every meet and her trajectory looks very promising.

oxyswim
Reply to  mahmoud
1 month ago

I honestly have a hard time fathoming how much of a loser you have to be to take shots at an athlete right after they set 11 world records in a single meet. Truly mind boggling.

gretchen truther
Reply to  mahmoud
1 month ago

10 individual lcm/scm world records (not to mention many scy/american records) in the past year, also not including any relays, would suggest otherwise, but go off

bne
Reply to  gretchen truther
30 days ago

i agree with you wholeheartedly but saying scm/lcm is a little deceptive l

klorn8d
Reply to  mahmoud
1 month ago

She literally has a long course world record lol

2Fat4Speed
Reply to  mahmoud
30 days ago

“yet”

Antipodean
Reply to  mahmoud
30 days ago

Show me your world records.

duck
1 month ago

anyone that plays connections: sports edition might want to check out december 19ths one

LBSWIM
Reply to  duck
1 month ago

Yes! I played this morning. Made me laugh and smile.

Awsi Dooger
1 month ago

During short course worlds they had a good underwater camera angle of wide eyed Gretchen as she approached the surface. I was thinking she goes so deep on freestyle underwaters it gives her a great view of the markers as she angles upward.

Backstroke I have no idea how they don’t screw up more frequently. Of course, when they do screw up it’s seldom penalized anyway.

John Pero
Reply to  Awsi Dooger
30 days ago

It is just the head that has to break the surface

ArtVanDeLegh10
Reply to  Awsi Dooger
30 days ago

100% of good UW kickers have a certain number of kicks they take. No one looks for the 15m marker on the lane rope. They practice their kicks and know how many will get them to just before 15m.

Ahad
1 month ago

She can count the number of dolphin kicks it takes for her to get to 15 meters

CookedBeans
Reply to  Ahad
1 month ago

Adrenaline can cause many swimmers to kick harder and go farther on the same number of kicks then in practice. I would count to see how many it takes me to get to the 12.5 or 13 yard mark at practice so at a meet you don’t go too far. Better safe than sorry.

anonymous
Reply to  Ahad
30 days ago

The article literally states “and even cuts her kick count short if she thinks she’s cutting it too close.” She obviously counts her kicks but is also aware enough of where she in the pool to make adjustments if needed.

Aquatic Ursine
1 month ago

Must be a nice problem to have

Last edited 1 month ago by Aquatic Ursine

About Aglaia Pezzato

Aglaia Pezzato

Cresce a Padova e dintorni dove inizialmente porta avanti le sue due passioni, la danza classica e il nuoto, preferendo poi quest’ultimo. Azzurrina dal 2007 al 2010 rappresenta l’Italia con la nazionale giovanile in diverse manifestazioni internazionali fino allo stop forzato per due delicati interventi chirurgici. 2014 Nel 2014 fa il suo esordio …

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