USA Medley Relay: A Spectacular Showdown of Speed and Strategy!

World Female Relay of the Year: United States Medley Relay Concluded Olympic Games in Spectacular Fashion

As the competitors were summoned from the preparation area for the concluding event of the Olympic Games in Paris, there was ample reason for the United States to feel optimistic. Its women’s 400-meter medley relay was truly formidable, a distinction no other country could assert, and less than four minutes was all that separated Team USA from finishing off the competition in La Defense Arena with flair.

The Red, White and Blue delivered in exceptional fashion.

With the arena buzzing, the American team composed of Regan Smith, Lilly King, Gretchen Walsh and Torri Huske shattered a world record with a time of 3:49.63, slicing nearly a second off the prior benchmark of 3:50.40 set by the U.S. at the 2019 World Championships. The achievement has awarded the team with Swimming World’s Female World Relay of the Year honor.

Among the four swimmers the United States relied upon for the medley relay, Smith (100 backstroke), Walsh (100 butterfly), and Huske (100 freestyle) each earned silver medals in their individual events. Conversely, King finished in a tie for fourth in the 100 breaststroke, just .01 away from the podium. Clearly, the U.S. showcased a deeply talented lineup.

Smith commenced the relay in magnificent style, as her 57.28 backstroke leg set an Olympic record, and was .44 faster than what Australian Kaylee McKeown, the Olympic champion in the 100 backstroke, achieved for her opening leg. Following her was King, whose breaststroke split of 1:04.90 was the sole sub-1:05 time in the competition, granting the United States a substantial lead at the halfway mark.

Walsh and Huske sealed the gold medal with their exceptional performances. After Walsh recorded a butterfly leg split of 55.03, the fastest ever, Huske anchored with a freestyle leg in 52.42. Not only did the quartet set a world record, but they also surged to victory by 3.48 seconds ahead of Australia.

Considering the manner in which the American women performed in Paris, the world-record achievement was well-deserved. Although the United States men faced challenges throughout the Games, the women consistently excelled, accumulating 18 medals, five of which were gold. Ending the most recent Games with a resounding victory was undoubtedly gratifying, especially as the group comprised familiar faces as Team USA veterans.

“We significantly lowered the record,” King stated. “It’s incredibly exciting to continue being part of that relay and see it progressively get quicker with largely the same group. It was an incredible way to finish the meet.”

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