The Virginia women's swimming team made a splash with an incredible performance in the 800-yard freestyle relay, securing the second-fastest time in history! But here's the catch: they achieved this feat without two of their star swimmers, the Walsh sisters, and with a strategic decision to leave out Claire Curzan on this relay.
At the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships, Virginia's relay team, led by Aimee Canny, showcased their prowess. Canny shaved off precious milliseconds from her personal best, setting the tone for the race. Madi Mintenko followed suit, swimming half a second faster than her previous record and maintaining the team's lead.
A controversial move? Perhaps. But it paid off as the team extended their lead. Louisville's Anastasia Gorbenko, fresh from a record-breaking 50-yard breaststroke split, pushed her team ahead of Stanford. Meanwhile, Caven Gormsen from Virginia swam the fastest third leg, widening the gap even further.
The final leg saw Anna Moesch dominate, outpacing even the 200-yard freestyle world championships bronze medalist Claire Weinstein. Virginia's strategy and depth proved successful, as they outperformed their previous year's time and even surpassed Stanford's 2017 performance on all but the leadoff leg.
A closer look at the splits:
| Leg | Stanford (2017 NCAAs) | Virginia (2025 ACCs) | Virginia (2026 ACCs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Simone Manuel - 1:41.41 | Gretchen Walsh - 1:39.35 | Aimee Canny - 1:41.81 |
| 2 | Lia Neal - 1:42.15 | Alex Walsh - 1:41.87 | Madi Mintenko - 1:41.25 |
| 3 | Ella Eastin - 1:41.89 | Aimee Canny - 1:42.03 | Caven Gormsen - 1:41.86 |
| 4 | Katie Ledecky - 1:40.46 | Claire Curzan - 1:40.89 | Anna Moesch - 1:40.42 |
| Total | 6:45.91 | 6:44.13 | 6:45.34 |
Cal secured second place, while Stanford settled for third. Louisville's impressive performance earned them fourth place overall.
This thrilling race not only showcased Virginia's resilience but also sparked debates about strategic decisions and the impact of individual performances on relay outcomes. What's your take on Virginia's strategy? Do you think leaving out certain swimmers is a bold move or a risky gamble? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
