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Harpeth Hall in the Olympics

Sisters and Harpeth Hall alumnae Gretchen Walsh '21 and Alex Walsh '20 compete for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics! 

One of swimming's most dynamic duos, Gretchen Walsh '21 and Alex Walsh '20 are not only sisters and Harpeth Hall alumnae, they can both call themselves Olympic medalists.

Alex claimed a silver medal in the 200 individual medley at the 2020 Olympic games in Tokyo. Three years later, Alex returned to the Olympics, this time alongside her sister in Paris. Making her Olympic debut, Gretchen added to the family medal count winning two golds in the 4 x 100-meter mixed medley relay and 4 x 100-meter women's medley relay and two silvers in the 100-meter butterfly and the 4 x 100-meter women's freestyle relay.

Before they were Olympians, Gretchen and Alex helped Harpeth Hall win back-to-back Swimming World National Championships in 2018 and 2019 under Coach Polly Linden, and five straight MTHSSA Middle Region Championships.

During the Olympic trials, Gretchen Walsh '21 smashed the women's 100-meter butterfly world record with a time of 55.18 at the semifinals. She went on to qualify for her first-ever Olympics.

Honeybear Nation - which stretches across the country and around the globe - cheered for the Walsh sisters in every Olympic race. The enthusiasm peaked at a watch party on July 28 where the Harpeth Hall community gathered together to watch Gretchen clinch the silver medal in the 100-meter butterfly.

In December 2024, Gretchen was named the Tennessean Sportsperson of the Year. That same month, Gretchen earned yet another distinction when she set 11 new world records at the short course world championships - the most world records set by any one swimmer in history.

Meet the Walsh Sisters, Swimming's Dynamic Duo

Alex Walsh '20

 

  • Competing in the 200-meter IM at the 2024 Paris Olympics
  • Won the silver medal in the 200-meter IM at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
  • Three-time gold medalist at the 2022 FINA World Championships
  •  Left 2024 ACC Championships with 26 career first-place finishes (individual and relay)— the most in league history
  • Won three individual championships in the 2024 NCAA Championships— 200-yard IM, 400-yard IM, and 200-yard breaststroke, swam on three relay teams that won titles.

Gretchen Walsh '21

 

  • Set a new world record in the 100-meter butterfly at the 2024 Olympic Trials and will be competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics
  • First qualified for Olympic Trials in 2016 at the age of 13— she was the youngest out of 1,500 swimmers
  • First swimmer to break the 45 second mark in the 100-yard freestyle 
  • First swimmer to break the 48 second mark in the 100-yard butterfly 
  • Set meet, pool, ACC, American, NCAA, and US Open record in 100-yard freestyle at 2024 ACC Championships

2024 Olympic Schedule

The 2024 Olympic swimming events will take place from July 27 to Aug. 4 and will be available to watch on NBC or Peacock. View Gretchen and Alex's swimming schedule below.

"My teachers at Harpeth Hall always told me that I could succeed in school, swimming, and other extracurriculars without sacrificing one or another — as long as I worked for it. This mindset taught me how to manage my goals in all aspects of my life, which is a big reason why I thrive as an elite athlete."

- Olympic silver medalist swimmer Alex Walsh '20

Harpeth Hall Olympic History

Gretchen Walsh's participation in the 2024 Games builds on Harpeth Hall’s Olympic legacy—  joining the four Harpeth Hall alumnae who have competed in the Olympic Games.​​​​​​

Margaret Groos Sloan
Class of 1977
Competed in the marathon at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea, and was an alternate for the 1984 Olympic Games

Tracy Caulkins Stockwell
Class of 1981
Won three Olympic gold medals — the 400-meter individual medley (American record), the 200-meter individual medley (Olympic record), and the 4x100-meter medley relay — at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles

Linden Wiesman Ryan
Class of 1993
Won a bronze medal in equestrian team eventing at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia

Alex Walsh
Class of 2020
Won a silver medal in the 200-meter individual medley at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan

Harpeth Hall Olympic Trial Participants

The Walshes were not the only ones making waves. A total of five Harpeth Hall alumnae competed at the 2024 Olympic Swim Trials in Indianapolis, including Ella Nelson '19, Alex Massey '20, and Maggie Petty '24. The women swam in multiple events this trials, giving Honeybear Nation a lot to cheer about.

Walsh sisters earn spots on Team USA for the 2024 Paris Olympics!

The Walsh sisters have done it again. One of swimming's most dynamic duos, Gretchen Walsh '21 and Alex Walsh '20 will represent the United States in Paris.

During the Olympic trials, Gretchen Walsh '21 smashed the women's 100-meter butterfly world record with a time of 55.18 at the semifinals, .30 seconds faster than the previous record from 2016. Just one day later, she capped off an incredible weekend with a first-place finish in the 100-meter butterfly finals, securing a spot at the 2024 Olympics. In addition to the 100-meter butterfly, Gretchen also qualified for the 50-meter freestyle and the 4x100-meter freestyle relay team at the Olympics.

Alex, who claimed a silver medal in Tokyo, punched her return ticket to the games in the 200-meter IM, finishing second in the trials behind University of Virginia teammate Kate Douglass.

We cannot wait to cheer on our Honeybear Olympians! Save the date for a watch party at Harpeth Hall on July 28, more details to come. Be sure to follow Harpeth Hall on Instagram for full Olympic coverage and live Instagram takeover with Coach Polly Linden from Paris during the event. Let's go Bears!

The Walsh Sisters at Harpeth Hall

Alex Walsh completes a race as a Harpeth Hall Bearacuda

Gretchen Walsh competes at the 2020 State Championships

Alex Walsh swims breaststroke in a race for Harpeth Hall

Gretchen Walsh swims in a freestyle race for Harpeth Hall

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