{"id":650928,"date":"2026-08-14T08:20:41","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T15:20:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=650928"},"modified":"2026-08-14T08:20:41","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T15:20:41","slug":"pan-pacs-after-pb-gretchen-walsh-might-like-100-free-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/pan-pacs-after-pb-gretchen-walsh-might-like-100-free-again\/","title":{"rendered":"Pan Pacs: After PB, Gretchen Walsh \u2018Might Like\u2019 100 Free Again"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pan Pacs: After PB, Gretchen Walsh \u2018Might Like\u2019 100 Free Again<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s unusual, given Gretchen Walsh\u2019s<\/strong> all-conquering abilities in the sprints, to hear the American express her shortcomings in an event.<\/p>\n

But the 100 freestyle is that for the former Virginia superstar. Or, maybe she hopes, it was.<\/p>\n

Walsh finished second in the 100 free<\/a> at the Pan Pacific Championships Thursday night in Irvine. Her time of 52.78 was behind the 52.60 posted by Australia\u2019s Meg Harris.<\/strong> And by the standards of Walsh, by which a world record is at risk seemingly anytime she steps behind the blocks, that seems pedestrian.<\/p>\n

But not to Walsh, who was thrilled at what she counts as, \u201cmy first 100 free podium at a senior international meet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis one hurt a lot, and I think I wanted to go another best time, but I was still really proud of myself for getting on the podium,\u201d Walsh said at the Woollett Aquatics Center. \u201c \u2026 Very proud of how far I’ve come and everything I’ve had to overcome.\u201d<\/p>\n