Swimmer Alex Walsh Breaks Silence on Disqualification as She Says She's 'Still Proud' of Her Olympics Performance

Mar. 15, 2025

Alex Walsh on Aug. 2 at the Paris Olympics.Photo:OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images

OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images

Team USA swimmer Alex Walsh isspeaking out for the first timeafter she lost out on a bronze medal following a disqualification during the 200-meter individual medley at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Walsh, 23,wrote on Instagramthat she is “still proud” of herself despite the twist of fate, and that she’ll be leaving Paris with her head held high.

The athlete wrote that she believes “everything happens for a reason,” and she still has “so much more to be excited about” when it comes to her career as a competitive swimmer.

Alex Walsh on Aug. 3 after her disqualification.Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Walsh ended her message with a pink heart emoji, and signed the note, “With love, Alex.”

Walsh placed third in the 200-meter on Aug. 3, but was ultimately disqualified after she made an illegal turn from backstroke to breaststroke.

That night, she opted not to speak with reporters, though her teammate Kate Douglass, who won the silver medal, said she was “heartbroken” for Walsh.

“I feel like she deserved to be on the podium with me,” Douglass, 22, told reporters, including PEOPLE, after the race. “When it comes to that, I feel like we have a fair share of mistakes and stuff and I don’t know, it’s just upsetting.”

“I was just stopped in the middle of the pool, like so upset,” said Gretchen, who ultimately took home a gold medal in the mixed 4x100-meter medley. “I don’t really know how to describe it, but yeah, I knew that I was gonna have to move on from that quickly in the moment and give her a big hug, tell her that I’m here for her and then go out and do this in her honor.”

“A true QUEEN 👸 QUEEN ALEX FOREVER. Love you so much miss u already 🩷🩷,” Weitzeil commented.

Claire Weinstein, who won silver in Paris in the women’s 4x200-meter freestyle relay, commented, “Amazing swimmer amazing person.”

source: people.com