Alex Walsh Cruises to Victory in 400M IM | 2026 Short Course World Championship Trials

Pretty straightforward this morning, a handful of swimmers. If you did it legally, you get to do it again. Brutal race to do twice in a day, so a lot of these ladies opted to just check some of the boxes, make sure all of the mechanics were there, and set themselves up for a race this evening. The race right now belongs to Walsh in lane four. The 25-year-old Olympian out of New York Athletic Club out in a 28.6. It was 4.37.05 in the prelims, has been as quick as 4.27.12 in her career, has cracked into the top 30 performers in all-time history in the event. The American record of stout, 4.20.14 set by Katie Grimes in the World Championships in 2024. More of the same as we hit the halfway point or the halfway point of the backstroke rather but look at the gap that Walsh has built. 34.7, Odgers still in second but trailing by now almost four full seconds. Now we head to where Walsh is arguably the strongest with a big lead like this, a 33.2. On that second 50 for Walsh. Odgers 36.2 is six and a half seconds back. Now has to keep an eye on Grace Gannon, the 14-year-old in lane six, who's only a few tenths of a second behind Odgers, but is going to have a real difficult time keeping up with the top-ranked breast-stroker. Walsh's career. One to remember, an eight-time World Championships combined gold medalist across long-course and short-course disciplines. Olympic silver medalist in Tokyo in the 200 IM. All sorts of accolades in NCAA, World Aquatics, and USA Swimming. And you're seeing exactly why. Unmatchable ability across all four of the strokes. The Beijing A cut, 437-46. Walsh took care of it this morning. Odgers was a little bit off of it, but right now is on pace to get under the A standard. Still needs to finish pretty strong on this final 100 meters, but with a solid 33-32 range type final 50s, she should be under the cut of 437-46. Walsh, cool calm collected, exactly the way she earned it, building what is now a five-plus second lead on the next closest. Here's opening 50, 32.6, continues to be about 435 pace, which, like I said, would be under that Beijing A standard that we're all looking for to send to the world. There's Walsh's touch, 429.18. Here comes Isabelle Odgers looking for something sub 437. It is 435.85 for Odgers, getting it done. And punching a ticket to China. Alex Walsh is a winner going to China. Congratulations, Alex. We know the 200 IM. You're so, so strong. When you race the 400, what are the biggest challenges for you when you get into this event? Yeah. Um. Yeah, I think I'm kind of relearning how to swim short course. I've really been enjoying training this fall, so I'm excited to use this next month as momentum and really throw down something fast in the 400 in Beijing. You know, Alex, we talked about your incredible versatility. I mean, it looks like you're going to swim at least four events when we get to Beijing. Is there one that you're kind of really looking forward to? I think really the IMs. I mean, the 200 IM has always been my best event. I love swimming it. And the 400 IM, I've developed a really deep respect for that event over the past year and a half. So I'm excited to be swimming it again long course. And I really enjoy swimming it short course. So I'm excited and hoping for the best. Is it love-hate with that 400 IM? It's definitely love-hate. It used to be more hate. Now it's a little more love, I think. Good, good. I love it. Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you. Alex.