VIRGINIA BEACH — The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame announced Tuesday that University of Virginia Swimming’s Gretchen Walsh has been selected as the recipient of its Steve Guback Sportsperson of the Year Award.

According to the hall, the award recognizes an athlete, coach, team, administrator, and/or individual who supports athletics and has distinguished themselves through outstanding athletic achievement during the 2024 calendar year.

Walsh is coming off a year that saw her reach the top of the medal stand at the NCAA Championships and the 2024 Summer Olympics. Walsh was selected following an open nomination period, and through a vote combining the Hall’s Board of Directors, and the general public.

“You would be hard-pressed to find an athlete who had a better 2024 than Gretchen Walsh,” says Hall of Fame Chairman, Marty Miller. “The Hall is proud to honor her with the Sportsperson of the Year Award.”

In 2024, while competing for UVA Swimming, Walsh won seven Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championships, seven NCAA Championships, and was named an All-American in seven events, the hall noted, adding she helped lead the Cavaliers to their fourth consecutive team NCAA National Championship. Walsh concluded the meet with a perfect 7-for-7 first place finishes, including three individual NCAA records, one relay NCAA record, and pool records in all seven events.

Competing for Team USA at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, Walsh brought home four Olympic medals, two gold and two silver. She was a member of gold medal-winning relay teams in the 4×100 medley relay and the 4×100 mixed medley relay and won silver in the 100m butterfly and 4x100m freestyle relay.

The Sportsperson of the Year Award is named in honor of 2005 Virginia Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Steve Guback, who spent over 70 years in sports journalism. The award will be presented as part of the 2025 Induction Ceremony, Saturday, April 26 at the Westin Hotel in Town Center of Virginia Beach.

More information about the award and the 2025 induction ceremony can be found on the hall’s website at vasportshof.com .