American swimmer Gretchen Walsh said she was devastated when she learned her sister Alex had been disqualified in the 200-meter individual medley on Saturday, dedicating her American gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay to her brother elder.
Alex, silver medalist in 2021, touched the wall third in her event behind Canadian Summer McIntosh and fellow American Kate Douglass.
But she was then disqualified for an illegal turn at the end of her backstroke leg, handing the bronze medal to Australian Kaylee McKeown.
“I’m just devastated. I think Alex deserves so much,” Gretchen told reporters after the United States won relay gold.
Paris 2024 Olympic Games: American Alex Walsh leaves the pool after the final of the women’s 200 meter individual medley in Nanterre on Saturday. | Photo credit: AP
Paris 2024 Olympic Games: American Alex Walsh leaves the pool after the final of the women’s 200 meter individual medley in Nanterre on Saturday. | Photo credit: AP
“She worked so hard and I don’t really know how to put that into words. It’s really sad, but I know she will be back and better than ever.
Gretchen was warming up for the relay, the final event of the evening, when she heard the news. Although it came as a shock, she used it as fuel to motivate herself, as the Americans broke the world record in the final of the mixed 4x100m medley relay.
“I watched the race, I was really happy for her. When I saw she was third, I was thrilled that she was on the podium,” added Gretchen.
“Then I did another 50 (meters) of warm-up and then it was a disqualification. I just got stopped in the middle of the pool, so upset.
“I don’t really know how to describe it. I knew I was going to have to move on quickly and give her a big hug, tell her I’m here for her. And then go out and do this (win the mixed relay) in his honor.
The American time of three minutes and 37.43 seconds shaved 0.15 seconds off the world record set by Great Britain at the Tokyo Olympics.
This is only the second world record set in the swimming pool at La Défense Arena in Paris, after China’s Pan Zhanle, who won gold in the men’s 100 meter freestyle.
