The Vortex - October 2025: Walsh Limbers Up For Back Battle With McKeown
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The USA art of lining up several opponents to challenge an alpha-Dolphin dates back to the days of Shane Gould and all those "All that glitters is not Gould" t-shirts at Munich 1972, apparel that may well have contributed to the motivation behind what remains the first and only women's swimming Olympics campaign to have ever delivered five solo podiums in individual events.
Fast-forward to a lesser moment 53 years on and we find 'fly and free sprint ace Gretchen Walsh entered in the 50m back this morning on the opening day at the Westmont round of the World Cup as closest on the clock to Aussie queen of the discipline, pioneer quadruple Olympic backstroke champion Kaylee McKeown.
The Dolphin owns the World Cup record in 25.36, while Regan Smith, USA, holds the Wold record at 25.23, but is not entered for the dash this day. In her absence, the home shoal will look to Walsh to deliver upset. The World 50 and 100m butterfly champion is entered with a 25.37 best.
A rare presence in the 50 back in global waters, Walsh has been practising the art in America's big birthing pool of speed: short-course yards college racing. Coached by Todd DeSorbo at the University of Virginia, Walsh holds the fastest 50-yard backstroke ever in the tiniest of official pools - yards are only swum in the U.S. these days. Her time of 22.10sec was set during a 200 medley relay lead-off at the 2024 NCAA Championships.
For other highlights on day 1:
Start lists / Results in Full at Omega
Day 1 in Westmont features the men's 100m breaststroke and in the depth of a new day and chapter in his sterling career, there's this from Adam Peaty:
Craig Lord
Also In the October Vortex and SOS Coverage:
Craig Lord
Craig Lord
- Aussies Kaylee McKeown & Lani Pallister Top Day 3 World Cup Points Bill - 1 Round Down, 2 To Go
- Swim Ireland Severs Ties With Shane Ryan [plus, commentary]
- Australia Calls On Meta & X To Remove Fake Quotes Falsely Attributed To Mollie O'Callaghan
- Gretchen Walsh Whistles To Her 7th World S/C Mark With 23.72 50 'Fly
- Regan Smith Takes Down Liu's Shiny Suited Cup Mark & Gretchen Walsh Makes It 2 World Cup Marks On Day 1 Of 9
- Benedetta Pilato and Chiara Tarantino Land 90-Day Bans Over Singapore 2025 Shoplifting Arrest
- Walsh, Ponti, Marchand Top The Bill As World Cup Leaves Blocks; McIntosh Out Through Illness
- Australian Study Highlights Family Cost Of Junior Swimming
- No Aquatics Rules Broken But Indian Fed Facing Pressure In 'Controversy' Over Flag On Water Polo Bathers
- Hector Pardoe Is Athlete Of The Year At BBC Green Sport Awards
- Mum's The Word: Sarah Sjostrom Back In The Swim
- Three-time Irish Olympian Shane Ryan Retires From Fast Lane
- Two New Faces On Swimming Canada Board
- Cameron McEvoy Matches His 9.36 World Best In Aussie S/C 25m Exhibition
- Sam Short - Swiftest Aussie s/c 1500 Freestyler since Grant Hackett
- Sam Short On 3:36 in 400 Free As Aussie S/C Champs Get Underway in Melbourne
The SOS FORUM for subscribers:
Craig Lord
