American swimmer Gretchen Walsh expressed her devastation after learning about her sister Alex’s disqualification in the 200-meter individual medley at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Alex, who had secured a bronze medal, was disqualified for an illegal turn during the backstroke leg. This heartbreaking news came as a shock to Gretchen, who was warming up for the mixed 4x100m medley relay, the final event of the night.
Despite the emotional blow, Gretchen channeled her disappointment into motivation, dedicating her gold medal win in the relay to her sister. The American team shattered the world record in the event, clocking a time of 3 minutes and 37.43 seconds, beating the previous record held by Great Britain. “I’m just devastated. I think that Alex deserves so much,” Gretchen shared with reporters after the win. “She’s worked so hard and I don’t really know how to put that into words. It’s really sad, but I know that she’ll be back and better than ever.”
Gretchen explained that she had witnessed Alex’s initial third-place finish and was initially thrilled for her. However, the news of the disqualification hit her hard, leaving her momentarily stunned. She resolved to quickly overcome the emotional turmoil, offering her sister support and vowing to win the relay in her honor.
The US team’s victory, which also marked the second world record set at the La Defense Arena in Paris, was a testament to Gretchen’s resilience and unwavering support for her sister. Despite the disappointment surrounding Alex’s disqualification, the family’s shared spirit shone through, showcasing the power of sibling bonds in the face of adversity.
