Latest news with #Walsh
The Herald Scotland
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Pedro Pascal trained with Jason Walsh for 'Fantastic Four.' So did I.
In October, I arrived at Jason Walsh's private gym in West Hollywood. A strength and conditioning coach, Walsh has been in the business of turning actors into action stars - including Pascal - for about two decades. He trained Brie Larson for "Captain Marvel," Jake Gyllenhaal for "Road House," Matt Damon for "Elysium," John Krasinski for "13 Hours," Bradley Cooper for "American Sniper" - and many more. During this time, Walsh was busy flying back-and-forth from California to London, where he was getting Pascal in shape to play Mr. Fantastic. Still, he was able to fit me in for a training session. Walsh had recently launched his own protein powder, Rise311, a plant-based supplement geared to those who have trouble digesting whey, and he was doing some press. I was there for an interview and a workout, but, selfishly, I also wanted to know his secret. What are these ripped celebrities doing that I'm not? Walsh quickly dispelled me of any magic shortcuts. There's no secret, he said - but there are smarter ways to train most people often overlook. "There's misunderstanding of what it is and what it takes," he said. "It's a mentality. There's a personality. It's hard to put it into words. But there's the people that want to just cheat their way through it, and I like the people that want to do the work and do it from the ground level and build all the way through." How Pedro Pascal, Jake Gyllenhaal more stars get ripped for movies You probably wouldn't notice Walsh's gym while driving down Santa Monica Boulevard. Located above unassuming storefronts and with no signs on the door, it's the perfect place for celebrities to get a workout in away from the prying eyes of paparazzi. If you walk through the front door and up the narrow staircase, however, you'll find a massive loft full of fancy exercise equipment. Walsh said he even has a device that scans clients' bodies, revealing exactly what mobility issues they may have prior to training. More: How Pedro Pascal got in Mister Fantastic shape for Marvel debut When a studio hires him for a project, Walsh sometimes only has a matter of weeks to get an actor in action-star shape. It can be a daunting task, and he said a big part of his job is talking to studios about what's realistic and what's not, given the time frame. "Taking someone who has never done this before and then building them from the base level all the way up, it's a huge endeavor," he said. "It takes a lot of work, a lot of dedication, a lot of pain and suffering in a way. You're just sacrificing a lot to get this thing done." He also said he feels responsible to the public to be transparent about the process as well. Sure, working out and eating right alone often yield tremendous results. But, when it comes to movies, there's usually more going on behind-the-scenes. He says it's common for actors to go through periods of intentional dehydration or extreme calorie manipulation to look as chiseled as possible while cameras roll. Such a physique, however, is not sustainable - nor should it be the goal. "Jake Gyllenhaal, the shape that he got in for 'Road House' was insane, and that is not sustainable," Walsh said. "It's pure manipulation. It's dehydration protocols. It's conditioning protocols, low calories during certain times. We literally undulate constantly. And all you got to see is the edits of him with his shirt off." When he meets a new client, Walsh said he first asks what they want out of training. If someone comes to him wanting to look like Gyllenhaal in "Road House," Walsh said he wouldn't discourage them, but he'd be honest about what it actually takes to get there - and encourage them to consider if it's really something they want to put themselves through. More: I worked out with Jake Gyllenhaal, Matt Damon's trainer. The results shocked me. What's more fulfilling, Walsh said, is getting people in shape so they can live healthier, fuller lives. This, he said, plays just as big a part in transforming someone into a superhero as aesthetic muscles do. "I want you to feel strong, because it becomes part of that character too, right?" he said. "It's confidence. It's not false confidence; it is confidence. You can lift something heavy. You can take a fall and get up and not be injured. Brie Larson's one of those clients. She's a perfect example of someone who would have a hard time taking the bottle cap off a bottle, and then, by the time we finished with her, she was doing all of her own stunt work. And for her, she felt like a superhero, which is beautiful." I asked Jason Walsh to turn me into a superhero. Here's what happened. So, did Walsh turn me into Thor in one hour? Well, no - that's impossible. Instead, he did something else. I ask Walsh to train me as if I was just cast as a Marvel's newest hero, and this was day one. He said we should start with a basic screening to find where my body's mobility might be holding me back, something he does with every client. This might seem tedious - especially for someone who's been working out for a while - but he said it's essential. Doing so helps prevent injuries as workouts ramp up. It also makes a big difference in how clients feel day-to-day. "It's not always about aesthetics," Walsh said. "I want to clean up any and all issues." What health & wellness means for you: Sign up for USA TODAY's Keeping It Together newsletter Walsh had me do leg stretches and immediately clocked limited flexibility in my lower body, particularly my right hip. So, we got to work. He put me through the ringer of stretches and body-weight exercises, all aimed at my glutes. At one point, he had me take side-steps across the gym in various positions with bands around my legs. He had me do squats on a balance ball. By the end, my glutes were on fire, and I was sweating bullets. When we finished, the difference was startling. My squat was deeper and more even. My balance had improved. My posture was better. Even walking felt easier. "We all want to look good, don't get me wrong - and there's some really big benefits to the psychology of looking in the mirror and going, 'Oh,' " Walsh said. "It's encouraging. I just don't find that it is the primary focus for me." What is the primary focus, he said, is helping people live their best lives. The next Tom Cruise? Brie Larson got ripped, did most of her own 'Captain Marvel' stunts Coming into the session, I thought exercise had to involve heavy weights or heart-pounding cardio to be valuable. After working out with Walsh, however, I learned detailed work on a specific issue is often much more important - especially if it gets at a root problem that's been long neglected. It's a mindset shift he himself has undergone over the course of his own fitness journey. "I'm trying to evolve myself and open myself up to different ideas," he said. "I was pretty hardheaded about stuff, because, coming from coaching, it's a very, very masculine, alpha-male kind of mentality. And so, here, I think you have to have a little more sensibility and understand people. Us regular people, we go through (things) constantly. We carry that. We have things on a daily that would hinder us from doing the things that we want to do sometimes." More: Jake Gyllenhaal got a staph infection making 'Road House,' says his 'whole arm swelled up' Now that I'm squatting like a superhero, I wonder what other issues I may have in the rest of my body that have gone unnoticed. As I continue to work out and lift weights on my own, I'm going to pay attention. More importantly, I know that, if I do achieve a superhero physique one day, it needs to be built on a solid foundation - one that, ultimately, makes the aches and pains of life a little easier. After all, what's the point of looking like a superhero, if you don't feel like one too? Look out, Thor - I'm one workout closer to stealing your hammer.
USA Today
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
I worked out with Pedro Pascal's trainer for 'Fantastic Four.' The results shocked me.
The internet is buzzing about Pedro Pascal's fitness transformation as Mr. Fantastic in "The Fantastic Four." How did he do it? Well, I have a bit of an idea. In October, I arrived at Jason Walsh's private gym in West Hollywood. A strength and conditioning coach, Walsh has been in the business of turning actors into action stars − including Pascal − for about two decades. He trained Brie Larson for "Captain Marvel," Jake Gyllenhaal for "Road House," Matt Damon for "Elysium," John Krasinski for "13 Hours," Bradley Cooper for "American Sniper" − and many more. During this time, Walsh was busy flying back-and-forth from California to London, where he was getting Pascal in shape to play Mr. Fantastic. Still, he was able to fit me in for a training session. Walsh had recently launched his own protein powder, Rise311, a plant-based supplement geared to those who have trouble digesting whey, and he was doing some press. I was there for an interview and a workout, but, selfishly, I also wanted to know his secret. What are these ripped celebrities doing that I'm not? Walsh quickly dispelled me of any magic shortcuts. There's no secret, he said − but there are smarter ways to train most people often overlook. "There's misunderstanding of what it is and what it takes," he said. "It's a mentality. There's a personality. It's hard to put it into words. But there's the people that want to just cheat their way through it, and I like the people that want to do the work and do it from the ground level and build all the way through." How Pedro Pascal, Jake Gyllenhaal more stars get ripped for movies You probably wouldn't notice Walsh's gym while driving down Santa Monica Boulevard. Located above unassuming storefronts and with no signs on the door, it's the perfect place for celebrities to get a workout in away from the prying eyes of paparazzi. If you walk through the front door and up the narrow staircase, however, you'll find a massive loft full of fancy exercise equipment. Walsh said he even has a device that scans clients' bodies, revealing exactly what mobility issues they may have prior to training. More: How Pedro Pascal got in Mister Fantastic shape for Marvel debut When a studio hires him for a project, Walsh sometimes only has a matter of weeks to get an actor in action-star shape. It can be a daunting task, and he said a big part of his job is talking to studios about what's realistic and what's not, given the time frame. "Taking someone who has never done this before and then building them from the base level all the way up, it's a huge endeavor," he said. "It takes a lot of work, a lot of dedication, a lot of pain and suffering in a way. You're just sacrificing a lot to get this thing done." He also said he feels responsible to the public to be transparent about the process as well. Sure, working out and eating right alone often yield tremendous results. But, when it comes to movies, there's usually more going on behind-the-scenes. He says it's common for actors to go through periods of intentional dehydration or extreme calorie manipulation to look as chiseled as possible while cameras roll. Such a physique, however, is not sustainable − nor should it be the goal. "Jake Gyllenhaal, the shape that he got in for 'Road House' was insane, and that is not sustainable," Walsh said. "It's pure manipulation. It's dehydration protocols. It's conditioning protocols, low calories during certain times. We literally undulate constantly. And all you got to see is the edits of him with his shirt off." When he meets a new client, Walsh said he first asks what they want out of training. If someone comes to him wanting to look like Gyllenhaal in "Road House," Walsh said he wouldn't discourage them, but he'd be honest about what it actually takes to get there − and encourage them to consider if it's really something they want to put themselves through. More: I worked out with Jake Gyllenhaal, Matt Damon's trainer. The results shocked me. What's more fulfilling, Walsh said, is getting people in shape so they can live healthier, fuller lives. This, he said, plays just as big a part in transforming someone into a superhero as aesthetic muscles do. "I want you to feel strong, because it becomes part of that character too, right?" he said. "It's confidence. It's not false confidence; it is confidence. You can lift something heavy. You can take a fall and get up and not be injured. Brie Larson's one of those clients. She's a perfect example of someone who would have a hard time taking the bottle cap off a bottle, and then, by the time we finished with her, she was doing all of her own stunt work. And for her, she felt like a superhero, which is beautiful." I asked Jason Walsh to turn me into a superhero. Here's what happened. So, did Walsh turn me into Thor in one hour? Well, no − that's impossible. Instead, he did something else. I ask Walsh to train me as if I was just cast as a Marvel's newest hero, and this was day one. He said we should start with a basic screening to find where my body's mobility might be holding me back, something he does with every client. This might seem tedious − especially for someone who's been working out for a while − but he said it's essential. Doing so helps prevent injuries as workouts ramp up. It also makes a big difference in how clients feel day-to-day. "It's not always about aesthetics," Walsh said. "I want to clean up any and all issues." What health & wellness means for you: Sign up for USA TODAY's Keeping It Together newsletter Walsh had me do leg stretches and immediately clocked limited flexibility in my lower body, particularly my right hip. So, we got to work. He put me through the ringer of stretches and body-weight exercises, all aimed at my glutes. At one point, he had me take side-steps across the gym in various positions with bands around my legs. He had me do squats on a balance ball. By the end, my glutes were on fire, and I was sweating bullets. When we finished, the difference was startling. My squat was deeper and more even. My balance had improved. My posture was better. Even walking felt easier. "We all want to look good, don't get me wrong − and there's some really big benefits to the psychology of looking in the mirror and going, 'Oh,' " Walsh said. "It's encouraging. I just don't find that it is the primary focus for me." What is the primary focus, he said, is helping people live their best lives. The next Tom Cruise? Brie Larson got ripped, did most of her own 'Captain Marvel' stunts Coming into the session, I thought exercise had to involve heavy weights or heart-pounding cardio to be valuable. After working out with Walsh, however, I learned detailed work on a specific issue is often much more important − especially if it gets at a root problem that's been long neglected. It's a mindset shift he himself has undergone over the course of his own fitness journey. "I'm trying to evolve myself and open myself up to different ideas," he said. "I was pretty hardheaded about stuff, because, coming from coaching, it's a very, very masculine, alpha-male kind of mentality. And so, here, I think you have to have a little more sensibility and understand people. Us regular people, we go through (things) constantly. We carry that. We have things on a daily that would hinder us from doing the things that we want to do sometimes." More: Jake Gyllenhaal got a staph infection making 'Road House,' says his 'whole arm swelled up' Now that I'm squatting like a superhero, I wonder what other issues I may have in the rest of my body that have gone unnoticed. As I continue to work out and lift weights on my own, I'm going to pay attention. More importantly, I know that, if I do achieve a superhero physique one day, it needs to be built on a solid foundation − one that, ultimately, makes the aches and pains of life a little easier. After all, what's the point of looking like a superhero, if you don't feel like one too? Look out, Thor − I'm one workout closer to stealing your hammer.
NZ Herald
18 hours ago
- Business
- NZ Herald
Agribusiness and Trade: NZ visit wowed China with culture and products
The arrangements, as tallied by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, represented $871 million worth of exports, said Walsh. 'And if you include the government-to-government deals, then the value was more than $1b.' Two-way trade with China was worth nearly $40b, representing more than 20% of all New Zealand's exports in the year ending March. Walsh said most of the business leaders were already doing business in China and they wanted to deepen their relationships and create new initiatives. But there was one new entrant. Auckland-based The Beauty Lab Collective signed an agreement to resume cosmetic exports to China by way of general trade, paving the way for $200m worth of exports in that sector. Walsh said the delegation achieved its objectives and outcomes of: ● Securing and growing trade and economic opportunities; ● Showcasing our products, services and people; ● Increasing the understanding of changing market dynamics, particularly post-Covid; ● Ensuring we stay relevant in key consumer markets. She said the demographics and customer sentiment were changing — it was no longer the same China. 'The seniors want fun and to be healthy, and the kids want education. The number of seniors will increase from 200m to 400m within 20 years. 'The economic growth is shifting from the Tier 1 cities [Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou] to the Tier 2 and 3 cities. I was told there are 79 Tier 2 and 3 cities bigger than New Zealand's population. 'Consumers are buying smarter, not more, and brand allegiance is lower and can change quickly. Digital and influencers are non-negotiable. There are 67,000 new products hitting the stores each week. 'But clean and green is still our tag,' said Walsh. 'The Chinese consumer wants more stories on provenance — the product's origin, nutrition and well-being, and science.' Walsh said the fast-food scene was changing in China. McDonald's will be increasing the number of its stores from 7000 to 10,000, KFC has more than 10,000 stores and Pizza Hut has gone the opposite. They are making their workforce available for [online] delivery and 'there's nothing strange now about having a can of Coke delivered to your home.' Walsh said on the street China is alive and bustling compared with New Zealand. 'I felt people were more refined and organised. Economic clouds come and go, and the key thing in China is the fall in customer sentiment. 'You have to work hard to win it [sentiment]. We need to bring more innovation into our products and to tell the story.' On the economic front, Walsh said China had deflationary pressure, weak consumer demand, trade friction (with United States) and a struggling property sector. There was a need to stimulate domestic consumption. New Zealand producers had opportunities given the geopolitical uncertainties, and there were new types of consumption in China — electric vehicles, culture, sport, medical and health. You have to work hard to win [sentiment].We need to bring more innovation into our products and to tell the story. Dame Therese Walsh One of the eye-opening visits by the delegation was to a NIO electric car factory. The company has invested US$3.6b, established 14 global locations and will be producing 760,000 cars this year, said Walsh. 'NIO has 10,000 patents, 11,000 research and development staff, 14.7m registered users, and has developed a two-minute charge on batteries. They have created an entire community around the brand, encouraging people to own the cars and attract other users. It's called user co-creation. 'When China decides that's what it wants to do, they are great at it,' said Walsh. 'Chinese manufacturers now dominate the world supply of electric vehicles.' Trying out an EV in the NIO showroom. Walsh's sector take-outs from the China visit were: ● Strong demand for dairy and horticulture, and growth can be harnessed by enhancing clean and green image through nutrition, science and sustainability ● Strong momentum in meat and seafood, and market access can be improved with consistent and strategic marketing ● Massive opportunity for education to focus on adding lifestyle, safety and practical training — offering the likes of food systems and technology. ● Need more incentives for tourism and a focus on high-value visitors — transit visas and Australia add-on is great but more is required per the Tourism roadmap. Walsh said it was important for New Zealand exporters to choose their markets [in China] carefully and they act fast. 'Get granular with your local market and go deep. There's massive opportunity in the Tier 2 and 3 cities, with populations up to 10m, and premium products with the clean and green tag is still our strength. 'There's also the opportunity to be more joined up and show up stronger as the team from New Zealand.' The business delegation included Fonterra, Westland Milk Products, The a2 Milk Company, Alliance Group, Silver Fern Farms, Zespri, Goodman Fielder, Air New Zealand, Auckland and Christchurch International Airports, Indevin Group (wine), Sealord, Fiordland Lobster Company, Rockit Global (apples), Scales Corp, MitoQ and Beauty Lab Collective. There were also representatives from Meat Industry Association, Deer Industry NZ, New Zealand Māori Tourism. Ngai Tahu Holdings, Plant and Food Research, Te Pūkenga Institute of Skills and Technology, Victoria University and UP Education. Tackling headwinds on the Chinese journey At the China Business Summit, three of New Zealand's leading exporters provided insights into how they adapted their strategies to ensure continued growth and success in China — in the face of economic headwinds, geopolitical uncertainty and increased global competition. Richard Allen, Fonterra's president global ingredients: China has been a wonderful market for us over more than 40 years. When we started it was all about milk powders but over the last few decades consumption has shifted from 'drinking dairy' to eating 'dairy' with the likes of cheeses and proteins. Richard Allen, president, Global Ingredients for Fonterra Dairy nutrition has become very important. 'What's been awesome is the Healthy China 2030 plan which recommends an increase in the intake of dairy nutrition from 300 grams to 500 grams a day for adults. This has the potential of increasing dairy consumption by 700,000 tonnes by 2030. The focus on healthy ageing has led to the rise of proteins. We started with quality and more and more, there's been a shift to the attributes of how the product is farmed and produced. The recent launch of the New Zealand grass-fed standard provides an interesting opportunity for us — to add value and bring greater nutrition to Chinese consumers. We operate in 500 cities across Tier 1, 2 and 3 cities and see rapid expansion. The food service channel has been a phenomenal success, generating $4 billion revenue last year and doubling since 2017. An important focus is targeting dairy upgrades, from non-dairy creams and other alternatives, and talking about the nutritional, taste and functionality benefits of dairy. This has driven our growth. We have invested significantly in local innovation capability with six application centres and 50 chefs working closely with customers in the different regions, applying the best of New Zealand dairy to local tastes. The role of innovation has been critical in being able to move with the consumption trends. Jason Te Brake, Zespri chief executive: Zespri's purpose is to help people and communities thrive from the goodness of kiwifruit. We have the ambition of being the world's healthiest food brand. Every piece of kiwifruit is a healthy eating occasion. Jason Te Brake, Zespri chief executive. Last year we provided 1.5b healthy eating occasions in China. We will increase that by 200 million pieces of fruit this year, and look at doubling the business over 10 years. We have three building blocks to our strategy: 1. Maintaining strong chain supply partnerships and making sure our partners understand our fruit and our consumers. We also want to provide the best service to them. We have 100 staff in China but every day we have 1000 people working for Zespri supplying the natural nutrition to consumers. 2. Investing heavily in branding and making sure we differentiate our brand by focusing on nutrition. We want our customers to understand that proposition and to enjoy the goodness of kiwifruit every single day. 3. Help raise an awareness of malnutrition and be part of the Chinese social fabric. We have connected with 1000 schools and provided information about having fruit in a balanced diet. There may be talk about uncertainty and complexity, but we have a great deal of confidence about the opportunities ahead of us in China. Dan Boulton, Silver Fern Farms chief executive: Time on the ground in China is important and the Prime Minister's delegation was the third time I've been up there in a matter of months. People-to-people connections, knowing the consumer channels and where to show up, and understanding that China is 'markets within a market' — that's what Silver Fern is all about. Dan Boulton, chief executive, Silver Fern Farms. You have to go narrow and deep in China rather than wide. We have been in the market for 30 years and tipped over $1b in revenue a few years ago. That's 25-30% of Silver Fern's turnover. China is the best-paying market for many of the items that come from our animals. There's an opportunity for growth in quick-service restaurants and New Zealand product is at the heart of many of those menus. China is one of the largest protein consumers and red meat consumption is growing substantially. You have to be sophisticated and differentiate your product — the volume we put in for a year, South America does it in a week. Our grass-fed standard and telling our story is essential — red meat is a cluttered sector. We have developed strong partners — before we used to deal with traders — and we are getting greater transparency in pricing and margin. There's been a real shift in how we sell to the market. We have a market for 150m consumers who cure our meat and consider its physical sustainable attributes. We have increased foodservice and gone deeper in the Tier 2 and 3 cities. It is in the central, western and northern parts of China where for us the red meat is being consumed. We have displays of chilled beef three to four metres long, and we are getting the halo benefit by being involved with five high-end national retail chains.
USA Today
19 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Why Jordan Walsh's third season with the Celtics is a 'make-or-break year'
Boston Celtics wing Jordan Walsh is no longer the new kid on the block for the Green Team. Although he's just 21 years old, Walsh is entering his third season in the NBA and is expected to take his game to the next level during the upcoming 2025-26 season. With Celtics star Jayson Tatum out indefinitely due to a devastating Achilles injury, Walsh will likely have more playing time. An anonymous Celtics coach is expecting the former second-round pick to take advantage of that newfound opportunity, as it could shape the rest of his NBA career, per Keith Smith of Spotrac. 'This is sort of a make-or-break year for him," the coach revealed. "The minutes will be there, if he takes them." Walsh looked up to the challenge in Las Vegas during Summer League, averaging 15 points with just 22.6 minutes per outing over the course of four games. He also contributed four rebounds and one steal per game while shooting a respectable 46.3% from the field. "This summer was a good start,' the anonymous Celtics coach said of Walsh's time in Sin City. The Dallas native now has the most points of any Summer Leaguer in Celtics history. Translating that success into the NBA's long and arduous regular season will be difficult, but Walsh will finally get the shot at real minutes that he's been waiting for. Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on: Spotify: iTunes: YouTube:
NBC Sports
a day ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
For Gretchen Walsh, a journey to a possible gold rush at World Swimming Championships
Gretchen Walsh goes into the World Swimming Championships with a chance to win not just her first individual global long-course gold medal, but a few of them. Walsh, 22, has broken the 100m butterfly world record on three occasions (including twice in one day). She won nine individual NCAA titles over four seasons at Virginia (25-yard pools) and claimed five individual golds at one World Short Course Championships (25-meter pool) last December. In Olympic-size pools (50 meters), Walsh owns the world's best time this year in the 50m and 100m butterflies and the 50m freestyle. She's also third-fastest in the 100m free. Plus she is expected to swim on three U.S. relays that could take gold in Singapore. Less than two years ago, Walsh was aware of those labeling her a 'bathtub swimmer' — that she had more success in smaller, short-course pools than in Olympic-size pools that require more strokes. Nick Zaccardi, Now she could win the most medals of any swimmer at these long-course worlds. Missy Franklin's female record six titles at a single edition (individuals plus relays) is not out of the question. If it wasn't already clear, Walsh made her ambitions known upon being chosen the nation's top women's college athlete across all sports on June 30. 'It's weird now with my personal records being the fastest of all time,' she said virtually at the Honda Cup ceremony. 'It's been totally a different mental game for myself, and I've had to approach the sport differently, but I really enjoy a challenge. That's what sports are about. So I'm looking forward to breaking more world records, hopefully, and getting up on the podium at worlds because I've never made the top of the podium at a summer world championship, so that's a new goal of mine.' The 6-foot-1 Walsh steadily climbed to this moment. 2016: Qualified for the Rio Olympic Trials nine days before the meet and was, at age 13, the youngest of more than 1,500 swimmers there. 2021: Fifth in the 50m free at the Tokyo Olympic Trials after her senior year of high school at Nashville's Harpeth Hall (notable alum: Tracy Caulkins, arguably the best all-around female swimmer in U.S. history). 2022: Missed World Championships team by one hundredth of a second in the 50m free. 2023: First World Championships team, bronze in the 50m fly, plus two relay medals. 2024: First world record (Olympic Trials, 100m fly), first Olympic team (four medals in Paris, including 100m fly silver and three relay medals). Virginia coach Todd DeSorbo holds yearly goal-setting sessions with his swimmers (eight former, current or future Cavaliers made this world team). Walsh has said her priority for this summer is to go faster in finals than in semifinals — which she didn't do in the 100m fly at any of the 2023 World Championships, the 2024 Olympic Trials and the Paris Games (where she swam an Olympic record time in the semis). 'That's my Super Bowl,' she told NBC Sports in the spring of semifinals. 'And then at finals I get nervous, or something just doesn't go right. I don't execute the race I wanted.' Walsh, a finance major, took a stress and anxiety management class in Charlottesville. 'I wanted to take away lessons from that to help me balance my life and then also to enjoy my last year (of college), soak up the moments, be present,' she said on 'Kicking it with the Walsh Sisters,' a YouTube show she hosts with older sister Alex, also an Olympic swimming medalist. DeSorbo switched up training following the Olympics, much to his pupils' approval: going from five practices per week in the long-course pool to one, with the vast majority in a 25-yard pool instead. After Christmas, there were no practices in a 50-meter pool until after the NCAA Championships in March. After that, they transitioned to a majority of training in the bigger pool again. In her first meet back in a 50-meter pool, Walsh broke 53 seconds in the 100m free for the first time (fifth-fastest American in history), broke her own American record in the 50m fly (second-fastest woman in history globally) and broke her own world record in the 100m fly in prelims and in the final. 'I think that the way we approached it really helped her,' DeSorbo said of the training changes, 'because there was no pressure. There was no expectation.' Walsh's first individual event at worlds is her trademark: the 100m fly (final on Monday morning in the U.S.). In 2025, no other woman in the world has been within 1.5 seconds of Walsh's latest world record. If she flies away from the field, it could be the start of an unforgettable week. 'Overall, I want to go best times, lower some records,' Walsh said, 'and get some gold.'
