Virginia swimmer Gretchen Walsh wins Honda Cup as top woman athlete

Sign up now: Get STs newsletters delivered to your inbox

Paris 2024 Olympics - Swimming - Womens 4 x 100m Medley Relay Final - Paris La Defense Arena, Nanterre, France - August 04, 2024. Gretchen Walsh of United States in action during the race REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq/File Photo

Virginia star swimmer Gretchen Walsh won the prestigious Honda Cup as the top Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year.

The other two finalists were UConn basketball star Paige Bueckers and Texas Tech softball player NiJaree Canady.

Walsh joins basketball legend Dawn Staley (1991) as the only Cavaliers to win the honor.

Walsh is the ninth swimmer to win the award, a list that includes two-time winner Tracy Caulkins (1982, 1984),Missy Franklin (2015) and Katie Ledecky (2017).

I feel like Im on cloud nine right now, Walsh said after being named the winner. Honestly, being nominated for this award last year was a big deal to me. To win it this year is obviously unreal. Its interesting this sport, you know, its all-year-round, and it feels like it never stops. But to have these moments of knowing that all the hard work and the never-ending training is coming to fruition, and its worth it.

Its really nice to have this recognition and to win this award among such an amazing group of athletes. And these women, all of us, different disciplines, different sports, but just excelling in all fields, it is really cool to be represented in a group like this.

Walsh won NCAA