MSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2010: Ken Walsh
9/30/2010 12:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
Sept. 30, 2010
KEN WALSH
Swimming (1965-67)
Ponte Vedra, Fla.
Although Ken Walsh grew up in Florida and could have stayed home to swim at any collegiate program he wanted to in the Sunshine State, the allure of the Big Ten Conference was just too much for him to pass up.
"I wanted to be in the Big Ten," said Walsh. "I wanted to have competition every week; I wanted to have competition every day. That's why I chose Michigan State, because I felt MSU would offer that for me."
Walsh got his chance to swim in the Big Ten all right - and shattered numerous records in the process.
The three-year letterwinner earned All-America honors in each of his three seasons at MSU (1965-67) and all told, was a 12-time All-American and four-time Big Ten champion.
"Coach (Charles) McCaffree and Coach (Richard) Fetters were great motivators," said Walsh. "Michigan State was a great venue to be competitive in the workout pool every day. Swimming is a very work intensive sport - I don't think anybody trains harder than the swimmers. It taught me that hard work pays off."
Walsh's senior year in 1966-67 was a banner season not only for him, but for entire the Spartan swimming and diving program.
His favorite memory from his impressive career at Michigan State occurred on Jan. 21, 1967, when the Spartans hosted archrival Michigan at McCaffree Pool. MSU edged the Wolverines, 63-60, posting only the program's fourth-ever victory against Michigan and the first since 1956. Walsh did his part in making sure the Spartans came away with the historic win, claiming first in both the 100-yard freestyle (47.4) and 200-yard freestyle (1:46.0) events.
"It was sickening the number of years we hadn't beaten them," said Walsh. "Beating them in a dual meet, head-to-head, that was probably the most exciting and satisfying moment for me. It was very special."
 | "Beating Michigan in a dual meet, head-to-head, that was probably the most exciting and satisfying moment for me. It was very special." - Ken Walsh on MSU's win over Michigan his senior year in 1967. |
But the success at McCaffree Pool didn't stop with the Michigan meet that season. The facility also hosted the Big Ten Championships and the NCAA Championships, and Walsh looked comfortable in his home surroundings in the biggest events of the year. Walsh set Big Ten records in the 100-yard freestyle (46.17) and the 200-yard freestyle (1:43.45) at the conference championship meet, and his 46.02 preliminary time in the 100 bested the NCAA mark. He also teamed up with Gary Langley, Don Rauch and Gary Dilley to win the 400-meter freestyle relay.
In his last collegiate meet at the NCAA Championships, Walsh capped his Spartan career in style in front of the home crowd, becoming an NCAA champion in the 100-yard freestyle by tying an American record with a time of 45.6.
"Winning the NCAAs and being able to swim in my home pool, that was very special too, but I think just being part of that team win against Michigan stands out the most," said Walsh. "I was a team captain that year, and I've always been a team guy."
Spoken like a true Spartan.
Following college, Walsh continued to excel in the pool, this time in international competition. He won gold at the 1967 Pan American Games in Winnipeg as a member of the 400-meter freestyle relay team, setting a 100-freestyle world record (:52.6) in his leg of the event.
Walsh's ascension in the swimming world reached the sport's biggest stage at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. He claimed gold medals in both the 400-meter medley relay and the 400-meter freestyle relay, and also won a silver medal in the 100-meter freestyle, ahead of teammate and swimming legend Mark Spitz. Walsh is still MSU's only double-gold Olympian.
"I held the world record in the 100-meter freestyle for a year and a half going into the Olympics. I ended up getting a silver medal - Michael Wenden of Australia beat me and my world record - but I had a good meet. I got a silver and two golds, so all in all, it was a pretty special event," Walsh modestly said.
Walsh has since gone on to become one of the top in his field in another venue. He is currently a freelance handheld camera operator and works at high-profile sporting events, primarily golf tournaments, all around the world for various TV networks. A winner of several Emmy Awards, Walsh has worked every Olympics since Barcelona in 1992.
"If you see a guy running around with a camera, that's probably me," said Walsh. "It's very special to me that I've been able to not only compete in swimming at such a high level, but also go back in another capacity."
Walsh said he is "very flattered and honored" to be included in the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, he won't make it back to East Lansing for the induction this weekend. But although Walsh wishes he could attend the ceremony, he has a good reason for being absent. Because while his former career is being commemorated, he will be too busy at his current one - shooting the Ryder Cup in Wales for NBC Sports. It's something MSU Athletics Director Mark Hollis, an avid golf fan, can surely appreciate.