This is complete race footage of the women’s 4×100 freestyle relay championship final at the 2013 FINA World Championships courtesy of swimswam partner Universal Sports Network.
See 4×100 free race coverage as reported by swimswam editor-in-chief, Braden Keith:
What a relay! The Americans and the Australians, center-stage, out ahead of the field. Cate Campbell got off to a fantastic start, going a 52.33 on a flat-start to lead off the Australians. Only Britta Steffen has ever been faster on a relay lead-off, and overall that’s the 4th-best time in history, and a new Australian Record for her.
The Americans, though, made up a ton of ground on the next leg, when Natalie Coughlin was a 52.98 – making the US women’s coaching staff look really smart for picking her off of the prelims relay, even if the times didn’t necessarily indicate it. She got the lead to under seven-tenths, bettering a 53.47 from Cate’s sister Bronte Campbell.
Emma McKeon looked like she was going to put this away for the Australians early, with all of the Aussies going out very hard, but Shannon Vreeland pulled her back in as the two had matching splits right around 53.2.
Then came the anchor leg. Like Lezak in 2008, like Agnel in 2012, this anchor from Megan Romano will go down in history. Swimming against Alicia Coutts, Romano put up a 52.60 anchor leg (to Coutts’ 53.44) to give the Americans a win by a tenth-of-a-second in a new American Record of 3:31.72. The Australians, breaking their own National Record, were 2nd in 3:32.43. Coutts was already swimming her 5th race of the day, but still split 53.44.
Though overlooked because of how far behind they were, the Netherlands took bronze in 3:35.77, including a 52.65 anchor from Olympic champion Ranomi Kromowidjojo.
The Swedes made a valiant effort of their own, getting a 53.91 lead-off from Michelle Coleman and a 52.95 third leg from Sarah Sjostrom, but couldn’t hold on at the wall as they took 4th in 3:36.56.
Canada was 5th in 3:37.09, Russia was 6th in 3:38.45 (a new height for them after years of struggling in this relay), Japan was 7th in 3:39.45, and Germany rounded out the final 8th in 3:39.57.
Megan Romano is an amazing relay swimmer, i`ve seen her do that so many times in her career
Wow! Go swimswam…official partner with NBC Universal…I’m impressed! Now i know why my comment with all the youtube links was removed…lol. No hurt feelings though 😉
Thank you Mel SO MUCH!!!!!!! I’ve been searching everywhere for online footage (that is not live) of these races but I couldn’t find it. Epic race!
It’s really a joy watching Cate Campbell swim.
So efficient, and she moved so much water.
You can see how efficient she is, compared to next lane Missy Franklin. Franklin’s stroke rate is higher and she trashed so much water than Campbell, and yet Campbell moved so much faster.
Can anyone play the videos? I can’t play the video in any of them. Can’t even click on the play button. I am outside the US though.
Try connecting from a US server?
Google FREE US VPN and give that a shot – good luck 🙂
SWIMPHILE, thank you for helping… I forgot that Uni Sports video doesn’t play for the international audience.
Can anyone play the video? I am from outside the US. I can’t play any of them.