Paris 2024 swimming: All results, as U.S. women dominate 4x100m medley relay, setting new world record
Team USA’s women finished swimming’s final race of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in style, setting a world record and taking the Olympic title in the 4x100m medley relay on Sunday, 4 August.
Clocking an astonishing 3:49.63, Regan Smith, Lilly King, Gretchen Walsh and Torri Huske destroyed Australia’s previous world record by more than three-quarters of a second and also avenged their second-place finish to the Aussies at Tokyo 2020.
Smith took an early lead in the backstroke before King and Walsh continued to build on her momentum, setting up Huske to take the race home with multiple body lengths on the rest of the field. She touched the wall 3.48 seconds ahead of silver medalists Australia, who stopped the clock at 3:53.11.
“I was actually just thinking, ‘What was that record?’ before we broke it,” King said.
“It's cool to be a part of that relay (team) and watch it get faster and faster, with pretty much the same people. It's awesome to see everybody improving. An awesome way to cap off the meet.”
The People’s Republic of China took bronze with 3:53.23.
Team USA poses with the Stars and Stripes following the women's 4x100m medley relay medal ceremony
Team USA inspired by Bobby Finke
Less than one hour before their race kicked off, USA’s Bobby Finke set a world record in the men’s 1500m and Walsh largely credited that for the energy she had going into the last race of the Games.
“Bobby’s swim was electric,” she said. “That was amazing and that got my energy going for the relay, so I was pumped to assert the lead and get the gold.”
As the medal ceremony wrapped up, all four Australian women jumped back into the pool, this time fully clothed, to celebrate their medal and the conclusion of swimming in Paris.
“It definitely hasn’t sunk in, I’m just really happy,” said six-time Olympic champion Emma McKeon.
“That jump in the pool, that just tops the meet for me, it was so much fun.”
Jenna Strauch, who swam the breaststroke leg for Australia, added to the excitement, saying: “That’s my first Olympic medal and I don’t know what the future holds for me, so if that’s what I go out on then that’s an exceptional high.
“I couldn’t be more proud of these girls and how Australia’s been able to do - to have once-in-a-lifetime athletes on one team from a small country. As a country, we should be extremely proud of our efforts.”
Canada, who won bronze in the event at Tokyo 2020, missed the podium to take fourth, 0.68 seconds behind the People’s Republic of China.
Swimming: Women’s 4x100 medley relay podium
Gold: USA - 3:49.63 WR
Silver: Australia - 3:53.11
Bronze: People’s Republic of China - 3:53.23