Team USA Breaks World Record in Medley Relay

NANTERRE, France — The U.S. women's swimming team concluded their Olympic campaign on a high note, clinching a gold medal and setting a new world record in the women’s 4×100-meter medley relay. The team, comprised of Regan Smith, Lilly King, Gretchen Walsh, and Torri Huske, finished the race in an impressive 3:49.63, outpacing their competitors by over three seconds. This victory continues the U.S. tradition of dominance in swimming, having secured more gold medals than any other nation since the 1988 Olympics. Despite the triumph of the women’s team, the U.S. men faced challenges, earning a silver medal in the men’s medley relay. This marked a historic moment, as it was the first time the American men did not win this event, excluding the boycotted 1980 Games. The overall performance of the men’s team was disappointing, with distance swimmer Bobby Finke being the only male athlete to secure an individual gold, achieving this feat on the final night of competition. In light of the mixed results, U.S. swimming coach Nesty emphasized the need for a thorough review of the team’s preparation and performance. He noted that many swimmers had recorded faster times during the U.S. Olympic trials in June compared to their performances at the Games. The focus moving forward will be on understanding the discrepancies and ensuring that athletes can match or exceed their best times in future competitions.