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US Mixed 4×100 Medley Relay Gets Redemption, Breaks World Record With 3:37.43

2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

MIXED 4×100 MEDLEY RELAY – FINAL

  • World Record: 3:37.58 – Great Britain (2021)
  • Olympic Record: 3:37.58 – Great Britain (2021)
  • 2021 Winning Time: 3:37.58 – Great Britain
  • 2021 Time to Win Bronze: 3:38.95
  1. United States (Ryan MurphyNic FinkGretchen WalshTorri Huske) – 3:37.43
  2. China (Xu JiayuQin HaiyangZhang YufeiYang Junxuan) – 3:37.55
  3. Australia (Kaylee McKeownJoshua YongMatthew Temple, Mollie O’Callaghan) – 3:38.76
  4. France (Yohann Ndoye-Brouard, Leon Marchand, Marie Wattel, Beryl Gastaldello) – 3:40.96
  5. Canada (Kylie Massie, Finlay Knox, Josh Liendo, Maggie MacNeil) – 3:41.41
  6. Netherlands (Kira Toussaint, Caspar Corbeau, Nyls Korstanje, Marrit Steenbergen) – 3:43.12
  7. Great Britain (Kathleen Dawson, James Wilby, Duncan Scott, Anna Hopkin) – 3:44.31
  8. Japan (Riku Matsuyama, Taku Taniguchi, Mizuki Hirai, Rikako Ikee) – 3:45.17

The US swam to a new World Record in the mixed 4×100 medley relay on the penultimate night of the 2024 Paris Olympics. The relay of Ryan Murphy, Nic Fink, Gretchen Walsh, and Torri Huske swam to a final time of a 3:37.43. That broke the old World Record of a 3:37.58 that Great Britain swam in Tokyo three years ago.

Split Comparison

New World Record (USA)
Old World Record (Great Britain
Back Ryan Murphy 52.08 Kathleen Dawson 58.8
Breast Nic Fink 58.29 Adam Peaty 56.78
Fly Gretchen Walsh 55.18 James Guy 50.00
Free Torri Huske 51.88 Anna Hopkin 52.00
3:37.43 3:37.58

The US went with the male-male-female-female order today, compared to the female-male-male-female order that Great Britain went with in Tokyo. This makes comparison difficult but despite being almost 1.5 seconds slower on the breaststroke leg for the men today, the US was still able to make up for it on the backstroke and butterfly legs.

Torri Huske was the difference maker here, swimming 0.12 seconds faster than Anna Hopkin swam on the freestyle anchor leg. Huske’s split of a 51.88 also makes her the #13 performer all-time in a flying start 100 free. She also is the #3 US performer all-time in a flying start 100 free, sitting only behind Kate Douglass who swam a 51.79 at 2023 Worlds and Simone Manuel who split a 51.86 at 2019 Worlds.

The US earned their redemption today after finishing off of the podium with a 5th place finish in Tokyo.

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George Chell
3 months ago

Torrid Torri helps the US huske the world record to win the Gold Medal for Team USA!

Laszlo
3 months ago

I know this is an unpopular opinion, but does anybody else not like the mixed relay being in the Olympics? I feel like it gives out many more medals and lessens the achievement of the past athletes who have had less events to get their medal count. It’s also the same athletes who win medals in the medley relay winning the mixed relay. I think it should stick to being a world championship thing.

boohoo raddle
Reply to  Laszlo
3 months ago

agreed even tho i loved tonight’s race

Laszlo
Reply to  boohoo raddle
3 months ago

I agree that it was a great race too. It’s just crazy that now dressel and ledecky have the same # of golds (and dressel may surpass her tomorrow) when ledecky’s achievement seems much higher. I doubt they will ever get rid of it though, right?

Last edited 3 months ago by Laszlo
Jim
Reply to  boohoo raddle
3 months ago

I think that’s the thing. Countries are figuring out their strengths. Teams like usa finally get to showcase their true depth (tons of combinations) but the secret is in the sauce….you habe to have the RIGHT combination to win. I’d argue ANY other combination usa put together would not have won., even though they have several different combinations. They finally chose the right combo and had a great result. They ALL deserve medals, even the preliminary swimmers.

Swamtoday
Reply to  Laszlo
3 months ago

I see what you’re saying but if you zoom out and look at the Olympics as a whole more events is definitely the trend. Mixed medley relay swimming seems like less of a stretch than some of the other odd sports they have added.

Trenton Steinway
Reply to  Swamtoday
3 months ago

We have a judo team event now.

There’s clearly an initiative to get more mixed events on the overall Olympic calendar.

I mean there were two swimming events in 1896. Glad it didn’t stay that way.

DrSwimPhil
Reply to  Laszlo
3 months ago

It’s awful optics for women’s swimming. We just had the gold medalist in the 100m back made to look like a high schooler swimming next to Ryan Murphy. This is not good for the sport and should be ended immediately.

U turn
3 months ago

With that US will win overall gold medal count. However I’m happy rest of world improving.

Rswim
3 months ago

I feel like the US has been slow in exchanges, not just safe, truly slow.

I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
Reply to  Rswim
3 months ago

Agree, both Walsh and Huske got cooked off the exchange by China, which is ironic, because they’re usually very slow off the blocks, when we’re the fast ones.

LBSWIM
Reply to  I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
3 months ago

In the free relay Huske was 0.00. Maybe they told her to not be so aggressive?

Whenus
Reply to  I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
3 months ago

Huske was slow at exchange because she knew she would win at that stage and played safe.

PBJSwimming
Reply to  Rswim
3 months ago

USA’s exchanges were abysmal compared to the field.

The relay exchanges were 1.01 seconds for USA, 0.84 for China, 0.68 for Australia, 0.72 for France, 0.61 for Canada, 0.85 for Nederlands, 0.71 for Great Britain, and 0.72 for Japan.

imjumbo
3 months ago

splits here makes the 4×100 MR for the men for USA really interesting… in a bad way perhaps?

JimSwim22
Reply to  imjumbo
3 months ago

Why? Murphy, Fink, Dressel, Armstrong didn’t seem to be in much doubt

Mean Dean
Reply to  JimSwim22
3 months ago

I feel like that armstrong leg is where there might be some doubt. Guy had a bad showing in his individual, not that the other 100 guys did better.

I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
Reply to  Mean Dean
3 months ago

His individual 100 back*. Sometimes, one stroke is on, and one’s not. I have faith that he could be able to recreate something similar.

Swimz
Reply to  Mean Dean
3 months ago

I mean then Dressel did very bad on his individual..Armstrong will swim free instead of backstroke..no issue

Just Keep Swimming
Reply to  Swimz
3 months ago

Or it could make those guys even hungrier for redemption.

Jim
Reply to  Mean Dean
3 months ago

I think Alexy should be anchorman don’t get me wrong, Armstrong had that great race, but it was a surprise to everyone. Alexys performances are surprises to no one. And Thay means he’s consistent. You take the anchor who is consistent.

Swimz
Reply to  Jim
3 months ago

Alexy is one of the inconsistent though rapidly put 47s but could not pop up when matters..though I love him as a swimmer..

I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
Reply to  imjumbo
3 months ago

Murphy, Finke, Dressel, Armstrong on the order, pretty easy, and they’ll either be gold or silver.

Yinz
Reply to  I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
3 months ago

I do not like idea of Finke swimming breast. It is his worst stroke, and he is not known for his sprinting ability.

Kate
Reply to  Yinz
3 months ago

Meant nic fink

I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
Reply to  Yinz
3 months ago

You know what I meant

finkish
Reply to  I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
3 months ago

True, but since you do know there is both a Fink and a Finke on the same team it is incumbent on you to comment on them with care.

I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
3 months ago

Can NBC hurry up on their social media posting this video? I need to see it again with Dan and Rowdy screaming more than I need air.

SwimmyJimmy
3 months ago

31 year old Fink out split Marchand

I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
Reply to  SwimmyJimmy
3 months ago

Marchand glazers need to realize he’s not a sprinter and would not be a factor in the 100 breast. His stroke is much better for the 200.

Andrew
Reply to  I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
3 months ago

Marchand is a world class swimmer but he’s not on the level of Phelps.

Phelps would dominate 2/4 IM, 2 fly/2 free and then consistently have the fastest 100 fly split in the medleys and be a key piece of both free relays for 15+ years. Leon can’t really swim 100s and cannot be deployed in free relays

Scotty
Reply to  I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
3 months ago

Pretty sure there has been a truck load of comments over the past week saying Marchand would have won the 100 if entered!

Steve Nolan
Reply to  I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
3 months ago

I’m one of those who thought he had a shot. He was only 0.4 off Fink, who was right off the gold.

Bad Man
Reply to  Steve Nolan
3 months ago

Yeah man only 0.4 off. In a 100. Only 0.4.

Weinstein-Madden-Ledecky-Gemmell
3 months ago

So, who were the imbeciles from the USA Swimming coaching staff at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics?

comment image

MMFF, all the way.

Jim
Reply to  Weinstein-Madden-Ledecky-Gemmell
3 months ago

Given our talent, there’s just no other way. Sure F (regan), M (fink), M (Dressel, although not this olympics), F (huske still, given they didn’t want douglass on there after her im), it just doesn’t make sense to me 6 seconds in the wash of adjacent lanes. Get out to clean water with 2 of your fastest men and then we happened to have 2 silver medalists in their respective strokes anchor. Unless a team also did mmff with their swimmers having gold, this was the way to go.

Weinstein-Madden-Ledecky-Gemmell
Reply to  Jim
3 months ago

It’s common sense especially the clean water aspect for the women.

JimSwim22
Reply to  Jim
3 months ago

Or wasn’t Huske because Douglas had an IM. It was Huske because she was the fastest possible option

Weinstein-Madden-Ledecky-Gemmell
Reply to  JimSwim22
3 months ago

The coaching staff typically goes with the hot hand at major international competitions.

I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
Reply to  Jim
3 months ago

I hate to say it, but Douglass would’ve lost that one if Yang split that 51. Kate’s 100 free wasn’t on this week. Huske was chosen because she was the fastest option.

Weinstein-Madden-Ledecky-Gemmell
Reply to  I miss the ISL (Go dawgs)
3 months ago

Kate Douglass was not going to swim the mixed 4 x 100 meter medley relay after swimming the final of the women’s 200 meter individual medley during the same evening session.

Swimz
Reply to  Jim
3 months ago

Huske was not a choice here at paris..SHE IS THE FASTEST FREESTYLER TO ANCHOR ON THIS MEET..IF DOUGLASS ANCHORED , USA WOULD HAVE WON SILVER.

Blastman
Reply to  Swimz
3 months ago

I could tell by the look on Huske’s face that she wasn’t going to “bow down, no how”. If she had the lead she wasn’t going let ANYONE catch her She nailed her swim!

sjostrom stan
Reply to  Swimz
3 months ago

Douglass is in prime 200m form these Olympics. No wonder she opted out of the individual 100 free

Scott
Reply to  Jim
3 months ago

Sorry if this is obvious or well known, but as kind of a newbie, MMFF should be the best theoretical strategy in a vacuum, right? Back and breast being the slowest strokes, and therefore more likely to have greater time differences between men and women? Add in the clean water angle, and MMFF definitely seems like it should be the default for power swimming countries, subject to the realities of the team, obviously. I’d especially think you are going to have a male in the BR spot almost always.

Last edited 3 months ago by Scott

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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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