Three of the most decorated college swimmers in history, former University of Virginia stars Kate Douglass, Alex Walsh and Gretchen Walsh, are creating a new scholarship that will benefit a member of the Cavalier women’s swimming team.
Douglass and the Walsh sisters announced Tuesday their commitment to establishing the Olympic Endowment Scholarship for Women’s Swimming Fund, which will receive a 50% match from the Virginia Athletics Foundation (VAF) to help “ensure long-term impact and support for generations of future student-athletes” at UVA.
The trio has rewritten the record books during their collegiate careers at Virginia, helping the lead Cavalier women to six straight ACC Championship titles (2020-2025) and five consecutive NCAA Championship banners (2021-2025).
Individually, Douglass won seven individual NCAA titles over three championship meets, winning the 50 free, 200 breast and 100 fly twice apiece, and adding the 200 IM crown as a senior in 2023.
“The University of Virginia has been an incredibly special place for us,” said Douglass, who graduated in 2023 and now competes professionally. “Our time as student-athletes shaped who we are, and we wanted to give back in a way that ensures other young women have the same opportunities to thrive in and out of the pool.”
Alex Walsh, who was a part of all five UVA NCAA title victories from 2021 to 2025, won nine individual national titles throughout her career, doing so in five different events. She won the 200 IM and 400 IM three times apiece, and then won the 200 fly (2022), 200 breast (2024) and 100 breast (2025) once.
“We’ve grown so much as student-athletes and as people during our time at Virginia,” Alex Walsh said. “It means the world to be able to give back to the program and the people who supported us every step of the way.”
Gretchen Walsh, arguably the greatest short course swimmer in history after wrapping up her NCAA career in March, won the 100 free all four years at the NCAA Championships, and she also won the 100 back in 2023 and won back-to-back titles in the 50 free and 100 fly (to go along with the 100 free) in 2024 and 2025.
She currently owns the NCAA, American and U.S. Open Records in the women’s 50 free (20.37), 100 free (44.71), 100 back (48.10) and 100 fly (46.97), while Douglass still holds the all-time records in the 200 breast (2:01.29) and 200 IM (1:48.37).
Additionally, all three of them are members of the record-holding Virginia teams in the 200 free (1:23.87) and 400 free (3:05.84) relays, while the Walsh sisters are a part of the teams holding the existing 200 (1:31.10) and 400 medley (3:19.58) relay records.
“This team is our family,” Gretchen said. “The community, the coaching, the energy; it’s all been life-changing. We’re proud to be part of something that will help future generations of Hoos chase their dreams.”
Collectively, the trio has won 10 Olympic medals, claimed 12 World Championship titles, and taken home the last four Honda Sports Awards for swimming and diving.
According to the University of Virginia, the scholarship will be awarded annually in perpetuity to a “deserving student-athlete on the women’s swimming team, helping support the academic and athletic journey as a Cavalier.”
“This is a powerful and deeply meaningful commitment from three of the most exceptional student-athletes that our program and sport has ever seen,” said UVA head coach Todd DeSorbo. “I believe their commitment to giving back reflects the meaningful experiences they have had at UVA, with their teammates, our staff, and the program. Kate, Alex, and Gretchen have transformed Virginia Swimming & Diving, and now they are leaving a legacy that will continue to elevate our program for years to come.”
The University of Virginia adds that the endowed scholarship shows a broader commitment to securing the future of Olympic sports, referencing the ever-changing world of college sports amidst the settlement in the House case.
“As we navigate the evolving landscape of college athletics, the VAF must remain focused on scholarship support, particularly endowments, as a cornerstone of our fundraising strategy,” Virginia Athletics said. “By doing so, we can ensure long-term sustainability, competitive excellence, and a strong future for Virginia Athletics.”
This is great! Do we have information on how much the three athletes have donated to start the scholarship fund?
Excellent in their own right; impervious to the drama of culture. Growing the sport one at a time. Giving way to achievement and the pursuit of dreams.
Of course some will hate this, they always will. But then, it is not them. No one comes close.
This is fantastic and I can’t believe some of the downvotes and comments it is getting.
If any of the ladies are reading this I hope they know that 99% of swimfans are touched! The loudest comments on SS are not the voice of the fans.
How in the world are people hating this
absolute snooze fest
Very generous way of literally giving back to the sport. Very impressive for such young individuals to do this.
This is outstanding! These young women understand what they have been given and want to give back. We should all be so thankful and thoughtful. Great job Ladies! Speaks volumes about the program too!!
It is totally a University of Virginia sports info public relations move. Unless the University or the gals state the percentage or dollar amount they are contributing to the endowment, this just has to be viewed as a way for UVa-DeSorbo to get cheap publicity for his program and the swimmers. UVa does this with every sport, but usually such a fund is named for a generous family that actually contributes substantial funding.
Oh good lord. Every university has athletic donors for stadiums, facilities, scholarship funds, whatever.
What is unusual is very recent graduates using what they’ve earned to help fund their own sport in a meaningful way to support future athletes. Is it good PR? Sure, so what?
Something tells me Kate Douglass and the Walsh sisters haven’t earned enough to fund a new $100M pool yet, so regardless of what you think, it’s meaningful.
Swimming as a unit hates “good PR,” and it shows.
Class acts!!!! I’m the pool and out!
A downvote on something like this remarkable expression is more about the extreme problem personally of the poster. We all know of the crusade by mom, whose junior swimmer didn’t get what she wanted so this is vindictive and probably 3 accounts. The emotional challenges of her dau is probably more from home imho. Yep.
I love this. And I bet there will be more in time. I think it’s beautiful that super young stars give back. What is a family, anyway? Keeping it great.
Grievance burns out. Or burns.
Push push fish.