As 2025 comes to a close, The Chronicle’s sports department is reviewing the biggest moments from this year in Duke athletics. At No. 8: Kaelyn Gridley narrowly secured a first-place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke at ACC Championships.
By the last length of the 100-yard breaststroke, the event final formed a clean line across the pool at Greensboro Aquatic Center. The eight-person heat held the best of the ACC — swimmers that not only dominated conference competition, but who were recognized on the national and international stages. An Olympic gold medalist. Multiple Olympic Trials finalists. U.S. National Team Members.
In just under a minute, the entire group had cleared all 100 yards of the race. For a moment, it was near impossible to tell who had claimed gold. Duke’s Kaelyn Gridley and Virginia’s Emma Weber had touched the wall at almost the exact same time. But when the scoreboard flashed the final times, it was Gridley who had a small “1” to the left of her name. By .04 seconds, the then-junior had become the 100-yard breaststroke ACC Champion, setting a school record of 58.23 in the process…