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USA Men’s 400 Medley Relay Breaks World Record to Keep Olympic Streak Alive

2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

MEN’S 4×100 MEDLEY RELAY – FINAL

  • World Record: USA (Peirsol, Shanteau, Phelps, Walters) – 3:27.28 (2009)
  • Olympic Record: USA (Murphy, Miller, Phelps, Adrian) – 3:27.95 (2016)
  • World Junior Record: Russia (Zuev, Gerasimenko, Minakov, Shchegolev) – 3:33.19 (2019)
  • 2016 Olympic Champion: USA (Murphy, Miller, Phelps, Adrian) – 3:27.95
  • SwimSwam Event Preview – Men’s 4×100 medley relay
  1. United States, 3:26.78 WR
  2. Great Britain, 3:27.51 ER
  3. Italy, 3:29.17
  4. ROC, 3:29.22
  5. Australia, 3:29.60
  6. Japan, 3:29.91 AS
  7. Canada, 3:32.42

The final pool event of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics did not disappoint, as the United States fought a fierce battle out of lane 1 against Great Britain. There was more on the line for the U.S. in this race than just a Gold medal. For USA Swimming, the men’s 4×100 medley relay is a matter of tradition and legacy.

The Americans have never lost an Olympic men’s 4×100 medley relay. There was one time in the history of the Olympics that the USA didn’t win the event, and that was the 1980 Olympics held in Moscow. The reason the US didn’t win that year is because they weren’t there due to an American Boycott of those Games.

After a scare in prelims in which the US squad narrowly advanced, they bounced back in tremendous fashion, breaking the World Record, which was a super-suited WR featuring Michael Phelps. The US coaching staff also had a difficult decision to make pertaining to the breaststroke leg on this relay. Michael Andrew was the clear choice going into this meet, but some slightly off performances as the meet went on, coupled with the fact that he was also racing the 50 free final tonight cast doubt on whether to call on him. Andrew Wilson wasn’t in the same form we saw from him at U.S. Trials, and posted a 59.09 in prelims of this relay. There was also the option of Nic Fink, who swam exceptionally well in the 200 breast here in Tokyo.

Ultimately, it appears going with Michael Andrew was the right decision for Team USA. Andrew split a 58.49 for his squad, which is a time that seems highly unlikely Wilson or Fink would have been able to match. Andrew’s leg was pivotal for the Americans, as Great Britain’s Adam Peaty was at the top of his game, splitting 56.53.

The name of the game for the US going up against Great Britain in medley relays is capitalizing on Great Britain’s slight lack of strength in sprint backstroke, and minimizing the devastating impact of Peaty’s breaststroke dominance. Beyond the 200m mark, things look good for the Americans, who have Caeleb Dressel, the fastest butterflier in history, and Zach Apple, who can match the best in World on freestyle relay splits.

Things played out as well as the US could have possibly hoped for. Ryan Murphy got the team out to a 1.32-second lead over Great Britain, then Michael Andrew managed to split within 2 seconds of Peaty. Diving in 0.64 seconds behind James Guy, Dressel’s job was simple, and he still overperformed. The phenom posted the fastest fly split in history – 49.03, to hand Apple a 0.60-second lead over Duncan Scott. Apple made the most out of his clean water, clocking a blistering 46.95 to bring it home under the World Record.

Here is a split comparison between the US’ swim tonight, and the previous World Record from 2009:

Split Tokyo 2020 Final 2009 World Champs Finals
Backstroke Ryan Murphy – 52.31 Aaron Piersol – 52.19
Breaststroke Michael Andrew – 58.49 Eric Shanteau – 58.57
Butterfly Caeleb Dressel – 49.03 Michael Phelps – 49.72
Freestyle Zach Apple – 46.95 David Walters – 46.80
Final Time 3:26.78 3:27.28

Incredibly, the biggest difference between this relay and the former World Record relay was Dressel’s improvement over Michael Phelps.

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Mykidsmom
3 years ago

The NBC video of Rowdy announcing the race! Like he was swimming it himself. Gotta love him.

Tea rex
3 years ago

By the end, I felt kind of bad for MA so I’m glad he had a silver lining to his games.

MarkB
Reply to  Tea rex
3 years ago

Gold lining!

Former Big10
3 years ago

I always love seeing Dave Walters on lists, one of my favorite swimmers to watch.

Xman
Reply to  Former Big10
3 years ago

Seldom gets the mentions he deserves. They even left him off the 4×100 free in 2009.

West Edwards
3 years ago

Dressel time mind blowing. Shows passion to swim harder for “team” than “self”

Philip Johnson
3 years ago

If you re-watch, there’s a pretty interesting moment after Guy’s 2nd 50. While he had the slight lead, he takes a look over and sees Dressel powering past him. That has to be a helpless feeling 🙁

Hmm
Reply to  Philip Johnson
3 years ago

I saw that too. It was like 2 strokes into the second 50 or something like that.

anonymous
Reply to  Philip Johnson
3 years ago

Definitely saw him look

IUknows
3 years ago

Great achievement

BillyBob
3 years ago

Where is Steve Nolan? I need to drink more of his tears. Hey Steve, COPE!

Philip Johnson
Reply to  BillyBob
3 years ago

Or the people saying they wouldn’t medal? They seemed to go into hiding.

Steve Nolan
Reply to  BillyBob
3 years ago

comment image

BillyBob
Reply to  Steve Nolan
3 years ago

I have news for you. MA didn’t get covid or give it to anyone. 😂😂😂

BillyBob
Reply to  Steve Nolan
3 years ago

From now on please refer to him as “Olympic Gold Medalist and World Record Holder, Michael Andrew!” Thanks buddy.

flygirl21
3 years ago

MA looked like Shaq boxing out Zapple in the TV interview.

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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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