In the biggest moment in the history of the Duel in the Pool, the United States quartet of Eugene Godsoe, Kevin Cordes, Claire Donahue, and Simone Manuel came through when it mattered most, topping the European All-Stars by two tenths of a second to win competition’s first ever mixed medley relay tiebreaker, breaking the previous world record in the process.
The Americans took an early lead with a world-leading 22.88 leadoff leg from Godsoe, a lead the European team of Chris Walker-Hebborn, Damir Dugonjic, Jeanette Ottesen-Gray, and Fran Halsall would never quite close. With a gutsy anchor leg from Manuel, the Americans touched first in a new World Record of 1:37.17, just ahead of the 1:37.37 clocked by the Europeans.
The previous record was set earlier this month by Russia at the European Championships in Herning, Denmark.
A quick split comparison:
Team USA:
22.88 (Godsoe) – 25.40 (Cordes) – 25.28 (Donahue) – 23.61 (Manuel)
European All-Stars:
23.56 (Walker-Hebborn) – 25.40 (Dugonjic) – 24.76 (Ottesen-Gray) – 23.65 (Halsall)
Russia (previous WR):
23.70 (Vitaly Melnikov) – 28.39 (Yuliya Efimova) – 25.29 (Svetlana Chimrova) – 20.25 (Vlad Morozov)
I love that they let the swimmers congregate next to the starting blocks for the final event … It was an amazing atmosphere!
A HUGE high five to that final mixed relay…they were all amazing! Simone – you are a star! What a great moment for this young woman.
Yes! Video of the 4X100 free relays and the crazy mixed relay tiebreak!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWMTb36JjHI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3x9cmPU9KA
Wonderful experience for the young sprint star Simone Manuel.
She has swum that anchor leg like a veteran.
With all the pressure on her shoulders!
Wow! Very impressive!
If someone could post the video of that relay, I would be happy because I didn’t watch day 2.
If someone also has the Olivia Smoliga’s 100 back win, I would be happy as well. 🙂
Here is a snippet of the last relay on Speedo International’s Instagram.
http://instagram.com/p/iML1YvCOJT/
Godsoe is really on fire this year ! amazing field in usa right now on backstroke . Gonna be huge battles in june for the backstroke seats leading to Pan pacs and WC . Manuel is also very impressive . Well done Team Usa ;
I would like to order one (1) lifesize poster of Simone Manuel for my front door please.
Make that two, for both sides.
In all this NAG talk… she’s just been lurking about waiting to pounce …
Can’t wait to see what she does in March.
Simone’s split converts to 21.1!