Olympic swimmers and sisters Alex and Gretchen Walsh told BI about their journey from childhood rivals to Team USA teammates in Paris.
Courtesy of Glynis Walsh; Kevork Djansezian/Stringer/Getty Images
It's one thing to compare yourself to strangers — it's something entirely different when your biggest competition is under the same roof.
That's the case for elite swimmers and sisters Gretchen and Alex Walsh who, at 21 and 22, are poised to compete in their first and second Olympics, respectively, in a matter of days.
And though the two are now each other's biggest cheerleaders, they told Business Insider that wasn't always the case.
Growing up as the only daughters of former Division I swimmer Glynis Walsh, they were introduced to the water at a young age, starting swimming lessons at ages 4 and 6.
Courtesy of Glynis Walsh
Following the Walsh family's return to Nashville after living in Old Greenwich, Connecticut, the sisters joined the Nashville Aquatic Club in 2014.
"The expectation from our coaches was that we would be swimming in lanes next to each other, leading the lanes and just racing all practice and pacing off each other," Alex said. "It was good for both of us because it pushed us to be better."
But it also fueled what Gretchen called a "sisterly rivalry."
"We definitely would take it back to the house sometimes over our family dinners," she said.
"Our parents weren't very happy about that," Alex added. "But I think something our parents are grateful for is that we do swim pretty much entirely different lineups at swim meets, so there's rarely ever competition between us anymore when we're racing."
Focusing on different races allowed them to zero in on their shared goal: making the Olympics.
And it paid off. Gretchen and Alex qualified for the 2016 Olympic Trials when they were 12 and 13 years old. Despite not qualifying for Rio that year, the sisters went on to represent the US at swimming competitions worldwide, including the 2018 Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, and break multiple swimming records.
"I feel like a big turning point in our relationship in terms of supporting one another, for me, was Olympic Trials in 2021," Gretchen said.
Both sisters qualified for the trials, but Gretchen was left off Team USA after a fifth-place finish in the 50-meter freestyle, while Alex placed first in the 200-meter individual medley to punch her ticket to Tokyo. She went on to win the silver medal.
ODD ANDERSEN/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
"That was definitely a moment where I realized that I might be disappointed with my meet, but that was not going to be a reason that I wasn't going to be so supportive and insanely proud and happy for her," Gretchen said.
Alex added, "Maturing has made us both realize that the other one's success is not failure, and that shouldn't be a reason for our bond to be tainted because, at the end of the day, we are the people that we are because of each other. And our relationship has helped us with swimming more than it has hurt it ever."
Alex started at the University of Virginia in 2020, and her sister joined her there the following year. Still, Gretchen's decision to attend UVA wasn't immediate, as Alex told ESPN in 2023, "We made our little pro-con lists at dinner, and I was the only thing on the cons list!"
Gretchen told ESPN she was worried other coaches would think she only chose UVA because of her sister, "but at the end of the day, people can think whatever they want — it's turned out great."
Together, the Walsh sisters helped the Virginia women's swimming and diving team win its fourth straight NCAA Championship in March 2024, with Gretchen bringing home seven individual medals and Alex winning six, according to UVA. They also competed together on the winning 200-yard freestyle, 400-yard freestyle, and 400-yard medley relay teams, per the NCAA.
Alex Slitz/Contributor/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
And thanks to the emergence of name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals in NCAA sports — which can be valued in the millions of dollars for some athletes — they've partnered with brands like Sporti, a swimwear apparel brand, throughout their collegiate careers, most recently launching their "Star Spangled Summer" collection in April.
"The wonderful thing about our collab with Sporti is that we've kind of tapped into this really fun journey that I don't think either of us ever thought we would be on," Alex told BI. "So, not only have we been able to have our own swimsuit line, which in itself is a dream come true, but also being a part of what it's like to create a product and market a product."
Brand collaborations have allowed the sisters to promote themselves and the sport they love — and learn about business along the way.
"I feel like it's been a real side bonus to see the inner workings of that as it pertains to my own business or career trajectory outside of swimming," said Gretchen, a finance major minoring in math.
Courtesy of SwimOutlet
For their next challenge, the sisters are headed to Paris side-by-side.
Gretchen wasted no time seizing her Olympic dreams at the trials in June, breaking the world record in the 100-meter butterfly semifinals before taking first place in the finals to secure her spot in Paris on just day two of the meet.
Despite not yet securing her position, Alex's support never wavered. She told SwimSwam, "Regardless of what happens at this meet for me, we're both Olympians now."
But Alex's second-place finish in the 200-meter individual medley final also locked in her ticket to Paris.
As one of the first sibling pairs to swim for Team USA since 2004, the sisters will be watched by plenty of fans, including their parents, who they call their "No. 1 cheerleaders."
From shopping and eating warm croissants to enjoying the sounds of a full crowd at the pool, Alex and Gretchen Walsh say they are ready to approach this milestone accomplishment together.
