On Feb. 24, 2024, at the Greensboro Aquatic Center in North Carolina, the annual Atlantic Coast Conference(ACC) Swimming & Diving championships came to a close, finishing an epic five-day event that sported some of the greatest swims that the NCAA has ever seen. The championship consisted of 11 teams, with over 200 swimmers across more than 40 events, and it featured countless record breaking performances, as well as heart-breaking finishes. The ACC championships undoubtedly took the crown as the most impressive conference championship of the year, and it is worth breaking down in order to highlight the most dominant performances and the top-performing teams.
The first, and the perhaps most impressive swimmer of the championship was Virginia sophomore, Gretchen Walsh, who posted first place individual finishes in the 50 yard freestyle, 100 yard freestyle, and 100 yard fly, while also leading her relay team to victory in the 400 yard medley relay, the 800 yard free relay, the 200 yard free relay, and the 400 yard free relay. In addition to these first place finishes, she broke the NCAA and American record in almost every single one of these races, (she placed 3rd all-time in the 200 Free) meaning that she is the fastest woman in history in each of those events, as America is the only country to compete in a short course yards swimming pool.
Walsh did not only break these records, she demolished them, as she became the first woman to split under 20 seconds in the 50 yard free as part of a relay, with a 19.95, as well as swimming a 20.57 in the race off of a flat start, 0.4 seconds faster than the second fastest time ever. Walsh’s 45.16 in the 100 freestyle puts her on the precipice of being the first woman to ever break 45 seconds in the 100 freestyle, which would further solidify her as one of the sport’s most elite, barrier-breaking athletes.
While Gretchen Walsh deservedly took home the ACC Women’s Swimmer of the Meet award, Chris Guiliano, of the University of Notre Dame, took home the ACC Men’s Swimmer of the Meet. Guiliano had an impressive meet in his own right, similarly winning three individual first place finishes in the 50 yard free, the 100 yard free, and the 200 yard free. Guiliano also led his relay team to a first place finish in the 400 freestyle relay, splitting a 40.87 second 100 yard freestyle as he led off the relay. Guiliano broke the ACC record in his 100 yard individual freestyle in prelims, before he broke it again with a 40.62 second in the finals. The most impressive characteristics of Guiliano’s meet was his ability to post three 40 second 100 yard freestyles in one day, a remarkable feat considering the intense nature of the race.
Although the ACC Championships boasted some of the best swims in the collegiate level, it also demonstrated one of the most heartbreaking moments. On the final night of the ACC championships, North Carolina State senior Owen Lloyd threw down a 14:37.04 second 1650 yard free, winning the event and just beating out his NC State teammate, Ross Dant, by two seconds and posting a lifetime best time. However, when celebrating his hard-earned, and well-deserved win, Lloyd climbed up onto the lane line, and subsequently fell in Dant’s lane by accident. The meet officials immediately disqualified him, nullifying his time, because it is technically against the rules to cross lanes when other swimmers are still racing, however Dant had already finished his race, so there was no interference, and NC State ended up winning the event anyway, so there was no issue when it came to rewarding points to another team.
Despite this, meet officials refused to overturn the call and Dant was awarded the gold medal instead of Lloyd. In his post-meet interview, Dant expressed his opinion on the race, stating that it was Lloyd who deserved the medal instead of him, and that the NCAA needs to implement a rule change, as Lloyd was simply celebrating a win, instead of intentionally interfering with another’s race. Luckily, Lloyd will still be able to race at the NCAA championships later this month, which will give him a chance to redeem his unfortunate loss and attempt at another lifetime best.
Despite the devastating Lloyd loss, North Carolina State was able to secure the Men’s ACC Championship win with eight gold medals, while Virginia took home the woman’s title, earning a dominant 17 gold medals across every event. The ACC Championships was certainly a meet to remember, with some of the most dominant swims in the history of the sport, and plenty of controversy to go along with it. The collegiate swim season is not done, however, and if you are looking to tune in to watch more of this exciting sport, be sure to check out the NCAA championships on March 20, or, if you are seeking an even higher level of competition, the Olympic Trials for Swim & Dive begin on June 15, 2024, and they are sure to have some of the best racing we have ever seen.
