U.S. women's medley relay, in final race of worlds, sets record to win gold-medal battle
The U.S. women's 4×100-meter medley relay team on Sunday let out all the frustration from a meet hampered by a stomach illness that had spread throughout the team, setting a world record to beat the Australians and clinch the gold-medal title in the final race of the swimming program at the World Aquatics Championships.
The U.S. and Australia entered the race in Singapore tied with eight gold medals each, and the two countries were the top qualifiers for the final. But the Americans rolled to a win in 3:49.34, more than three seconds ahead of Australia's 3:52.67. China took bronze in 3:54.77.
American Regan Smith got it off to a promising start, edging her rival Kaylee McKeown to the wall in the backstroke leg to give the U.S. an unexpected edge after the first 100 meters.
'It was really, really important,' Smith said on Peacock of the fast start against McKeown, who has thwarted Smith's attempts at individual backstroke gold many times over the years, including twice this week. 'I love having the privilege of leading off this relay. … It's always a big deal to me to get us off to a really great start.'
The lineup behind Smith had the U.S. in great position, and after Smith's strong run, it was no contest.
Breaststroke star Kate Douglass — the 200-meter gold medalist at these worlds — dominated in the second leg, building a full body-length lead and keeping the U.S. on world-record pace. Next was the butterfly and Gretchen Walsh — the 100-meter gold medalist this week — who kept expanding the lead.
Torri Huske, Olympic silver medalist in the 100-meter freestyle, handled the freestyle leg, when the result was all but certain, and brought the U.S. home just ahead of the previous world record of 3:49.63, which the Americans set last year at the Olympics with Smith, Walsh, Huske and Lilly King.
On a busy final day that also saw stars Léon Marchand of France and Summer McIntosh of Canada add to their gold-medal hauls, the win gave the U.S. squad nine gold medals and 29 overall, both tops for the event. Australia finished in second in both categories, with eight golds and 20 medals total.
The Americans were impacted this week by a stomach illness that they contracted during a recent training camp in Thailand. Several swimmers withdrew from signature events or significantly underperformed their best times throughout the week. Walsh and Huske were among those. In the end, it was a team event that put a satisfying cap on the week for the Americans.
'I feel like the relays bring out the best in people,' Walsh said.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
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