“2024 Highlights: Europe Dominates the Mixed Relay Swimming Scene”

Great Britain, the defending titleholders in the Olympic mixed 4x100m medley after clinching the inaugural final at the Tokyo 2020 Games, commenced their year on a strong note by securing bronze at the World Aquatics Championships in February.

A British team that included two swimmers, Adam Peaty and Anna Hopkin, who played a vital role in the Olympic triumph in Tokyo three years prior, claimed third place in Doha, finishing behind the United States and Australia.

The subsequent four spots were occupied by European countries: Poland, Greece, Italy, and Sweden.

In the mixed 4x100m freestyle, Italy finished in fifth place—one spot ahead of The Netherlands—during a race dominated by China, whose team featured Alessandro Miressi, Manuel Frigo, Sofia Morini, and Chiara Tarantino.

The Paris 2024 final included three European nations: Britain, The Netherlands, and the home team from France.

The French squad came agonizingly close to claiming a medal. In a race clinched by the United States, who set a world record of 3:37.43, Yohann Ndoye-Brouard, four-time gold winner Leon Marchand, Marie Wattel, and Beryl Gasteldello finished fourth, setting a national record of 3:40.96.

The Dutch team, comprising Kira Toussaint, Caspar Corbeau, Nyls Korstanje, and Marrit Steenbergen, ended in sixth place. Britain, featuring Hopkin and Kathleen Dawson from their Tokyo 2020 lineup along with James Wilby and Duncan Scott, placed seventh.

During the European Aquatics Championships in Belgrade, Hungary triumphed in the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay, initiated by the soon-to-be Olympic 200m backstroke champion Hubert Kos, with Poland taking the silver, surpassing Germany.

The following day, Hungary achieved another victory as their team clinched the mixed 4x200m freestyle title, with Nikolett Padar anchor legging to a national record of 7:30.11, having swum the final leg in the 100m relay.

Poland and Germany mirrored their earlier performances in the shorter relay.

However, Hungary’s aspirations for a total sweep in the mixed relays were thwarted in the 4x100m medley, where they claimed third place in a race led by Israel, with Anastasia Gorbenko gathering a fourth gold medal at the Championships, while Germany secured the silver.