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United States Breaks Women’s 4x100m Freestyle American Record From 2014 In 3:26.29

2022 FINA SHORT COURSE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

In the first finals session of the World SC Championships, the United States’ quartet of Torri Huske, Kate Douglass, Claire Curzan, and Erika Brown set a new 4x100m freestyle American Record in a final time of 3:26.29. They also dipped below the previous World Record of 3:26.53, but finished behind Australia, who clocked a 3:25.43.

The prelims team that qualified in 4th had Erin Gemmell and Natalie Hinds on it rather than Douglass and Curzan. Hinds is entered in the individual event of the 100 free, but still did not make the finals team. She split nearly the same as Huske in the morning with a 52.70.

The previous American Record in this event of 3:27.70 was set at this meet in 2014 by Natalie Coughlin, Abbey Weitzeil, Madison Kennedy, and Shannon VreelandThe former World Record of 3:26.53 was set by the Netherlands, also in 2014 at this meet.

Split Comparison:

2022 2014
Torri Huske – 51.73 Natalie Coughlin – 52.25
Kate Douglass – 51.17 Abbey Weitzeil – 51.57
Claire Curzan – 51.59 Madison Kennedy – 51.82
Erika Brown – 51.80 Shannon Vreeland – 52.06
Total: 3:26.29 Total: 3:27.70

Last year, the team of Douglass, Curzan, Katharine Berkoff, and Weitzeil, won gold with a 3:28.52. Huske actually only swam in prelims last year, and was left off of the finals relay. Her prelim anchor split in 2021 was 53.01.

Breaking an 8-year-old American record shows progress for the U.S. in this event, but they appear to still be lacking that final key piece of the relay to make them gold medal contenders. Brown was easily chased down by Australia’s Emma McKeon,  who split a 49.96 to make up the deficit and win gold. The U.S. doesn’t have a split like that right now, making it difficult for them to win against a team like Australia, who does.

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Jake
1 year ago

🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺 49.96 first time for a woman under 50 seconds. Good luck beating that.

Swim fan
1 year ago

Incredible swims to break AR and WR. Curzan swam 2 prior events, Huske and Douglass 1 previous event and they still delivered. Brown did morning. Great job ladies!

Chris
1 year ago

They would have won with G Walsh

Tas
1 year ago

Team USA needs to find their hammer for the anchor leg. Paging GW to the white courtesy phone now. Such a lack of foresight by USA coaches to not be developing her for this.

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Tas
1 year ago

Based on early returns, not even Bob Bowman can resurrect the dead.

ACC fan
Reply to  Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
1 year ago

Assuming GW is Gretchen Walsh, how is that resurrecting the dead?

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
1 year ago

Curzan – DOB 06/30/2004
Douglass – DOB 11/17/2001
Huske – DOB 12/07/2002

USA Swimming needs another young female swimmer for the women’s 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay.

greg
Reply to  Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
1 year ago

short course at least the answer is Gretchen Walsh – she just needs to qualify next go-around.

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  greg
1 year ago

Gretchen Walsh needs a breakout year in long course.

ReneDescartes
Reply to  Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
1 year ago

Would you like to take a second to compliment Greg Meehan’s efforts w/ Huske, Curzan, and Ruck on their swims today?

MCH
Reply to  ReneDescartes
1 year ago

No

SFB123
1 year ago

Maybe Gretchen Walsh could help if not for the antiquated U S Swimming system for choosing team members.

Curious
Reply to  SFB123
1 year ago

I don’t think she qualified under any selection process?

WahooSwimFan
Reply to  Curious
1 year ago

That’s the point of SFB123’s comment – defending NCAA 100 free champ, very good short course swimmer; The problem with the selection is that its based off long course results, when as most acknowledge, short course is a different animal. The US left the world record holder in the men’s SC 100 back off the team; probably many other examples of excellent SC swimmers who could have helped the US team. In races where 50-60% of the race is underwaters off the start and turn, selection based off SC results would likely yield a better team result. But the US has lots of young rising women superstars, I bet by 2024 Olympics the US women will reclaim all the relay… Read more »

Joel
Reply to  WahooSwimFan
1 year ago

How are they beating australia sorry?

Meathead
1 year ago

Huske is a no brainer lead off on free relays. GM- take note!

RMS
Reply to  Meathead
1 year ago

Hey everyone- this is Meathead’s 100th comment saying the SAME thing. Kind of sad these young women broke an American AND World record yet this is the response you have.

Meathead
Reply to  RMS
1 year ago

Was complimenting the move…which lead to a WR…which was caused by the TH leadoff

Yikes
Reply to  RMS
1 year ago

Insufferable broken record

Demarrit Steenbergen
1 year ago

Douglass on the war path

Lisa
Reply to  Demarrit Steenbergen
1 year ago

She is looking good if she is on another relay events this week

RMS
Reply to  Demarrit Steenbergen
1 year ago

Her IM was incredible.

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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