Americans Crush 4×50 Mixed Medley Relay World Record

2022 FINA SHORT COURSE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

The first race of the second finals session in Melbourne was electric, starting off the meet with a world record-setting swim by the United States’ 4×50 mixed medley relay. The team of Ryan Murphy, Nic Fink, Kate Douglass, and Torri Huske blasted a time of 1:35.15, crushing the previous record by more than one second.

They took down the previous world record set by the Netherlands team of Kira Toussaint, Arno Kamminga, Maaike de Waard, and Thom de Boer at the 2021 European Championships.

Douglass had an especially strong swim, blasting a 50 fly split that was .029 seconds faster than the current 50 fly world record (24.09). Murphy’s leadoff split of 22.37 came within .15 of the world record and got the U.S. off to an early lead with Italy in second. Fink maintained their lead with a 24.96 split on the breast, just .01 off the individual event world record. It seemed to be the Americans’ race to lose by the final 25 meters. They were more than a body length ahead of world record pace as Huske barreled into the wall.

Split Comparison – Netherlands (2021) vs U.S. (2022 Short Course World Championships)

Splits: Netherlands WR (2021) USA WR (2022 SCWC)
Toussaint (25.99) Murphy (22.37)
Kamminga (25.54) Fink (24.96)
de Waard (24.50)
Douglass (24.09)
de Boer (20.15) Huske (23.73)
Final Time: 1:36.18 1:35.15

Team USA was only one of three teams in tonight’s final to stick with the typical male-male-female-female order of the mixed medley relay. Italy’s Lorenzo Mora, Nicolo Martinenghi, Silvia di Pietro, and Costanza Cocconcelli also opted for this order and won silver by setting a European record with a time of 1:36.01, also breaking the previous world record.

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Payton
1 year ago

I want those splits for my medley relay in scy. Damn

Nonrevhoofan
1 year ago

Kate Douglass’s 24.0 split compared to the Gold medalists (Huske and MacNeil) 24.64. With .5 relay start advantage, she might have beaten them. Good for the US to have three Top 6 sprint fliers; glad CC got to swim (and medal) in the individual race, but the coaches made an excellent decision to go with KD on the relay. And if they had flip-flopped KD and TH, it still would have been a WR (and maybe faster?).

Swimfan
1 year ago

Sucks that curzan gets left off of a gold medal/wr relay for Douglas just because she earned more individual swims. Doesn’t seem right.

Admin
Reply to  Swimfan
1 year ago

How much do you think it was that versus Douglass is swimming out-of-her-mind and Curzan is just swimming so-so? Based on Claire’s 24.96 in semis of the 50 fly, do you think she would’ve out-split 24.0 on the relay?

I’m actually a big fan of the US coaches making the right decision for the fastest relay, even if it doesn’t follow the letter of typical relay assemblage. They need more of that boldness, not less of it. They probably break the WR either way, but when a meet has 7 relays, I think you’ve gotta go off-book sometimes.

(Also, Claire has A LOT of individual swims. You can’t really have her do 6 individual events and 6 relays in a… Read more »

Swimfan
Reply to  Braden Keith
1 year ago

I get it. I just think it sucks. And yes I think if that relay is her first swim she also can go 24.0.

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

You go with the hot hand.

Kevin
Reply to  Swimfan
1 year ago

Douglas is a better short course butterflier and I think that should have more relevance for setting SCM relays than LCM times

Sun Yangs Hammer
Reply to  Swimfan
1 year ago

When I’m in an awful takes competition and my opponent is ^

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

Claire Curzan was swimming not one but two finals (W 100 BK, W 50 FL) later in the session.

EverybodyWangChungTonight
1 year ago

Douglass’ 24.0 50 fly is absolutely bonkers!

Swimfan
Reply to  EverybodyWangChungTonight
1 year ago

If you account for relay start it’s no better than huske was

EverybodyWangChungTonight
Reply to  Swimfan
1 year ago

Seeing as how Huske only went 0.3 faster on the free leg, doubtful she would have done a 24.0 in the fly.

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

Huske swam the freestyle leg.

Admin
Reply to  Swimfan
1 year ago

Torri was 24.8 in the 50 fly semifinals. I don’t think a relay start is worth 8-tenths consistently.

(Also, it’s like y’all are inviting Meathead in here to talk about Torri’s relay starts).

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Braden Keith
1 year ago

Torri Huske’s reaction time was 0.61 in the semifinals of the women’s 50 meter butterfly (SCM).

PancakeLover
Reply to  Swimfan
1 year ago

Do you just come to SS to hate on UVA swimmers?

Admin
Reply to  PancakeLover
1 year ago

In reviewing Swimfan’s commenting history, it is not indicative that they just come to SS to hate on UVA swimmers.

In fact, many of their past comments have been very complimentary of UVA swimmers.

Mathrunswim
Reply to  Braden Keith
1 year ago

I like this comment history adjudication. It might take too long for you to do it consistently, but maybe if there could be some sort of AI that swooped in and settled accusations of bias. Or you could even have it display next to a person’s name like “this commenter has demonstrated a pattern of thinking recruits will go to SMU.”

Troyy
Reply to  Swimfan
1 year ago

Huske’s relay start is mediocre most of the time so she’s not getting anywhere near 24.0.

Lisa
Reply to  EverybodyWangChungTonight
1 year ago

And looking at Huske, Curzan and King surely the medley relay world record this week could be broken

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

Claire Curzan did not win the women’s 100 meter backstroke (SCM).

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

Yeah but still got on the podium in a close race and she’s a good relay swimmer and I hope they choose the right swimmer for the relay cause most of them looks relay good this week

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

Team USA has no choice but to select Claire Curzan for the backstroke leg since Regan Smith is not present.

Tomek
Reply to  EverybodyWangChungTonight
1 year ago

Based on er 200 IM time Douglas is in excellent form for this meet

Swimgeek
Reply to  Tomek
1 year ago

Yes – And her 51.1 relay split. And her :24.0 relay split. 2 breast should be on fire

Lisa
Reply to  Swimgeek
1 year ago

Can’t wait for the medley relay

Octavio Gupta
1 year ago

Where the haters at

PFA
1 year ago

22.37 for murph just off the world record just set and a new American record

Swimgeek
Reply to  PFA
1 year ago

Was that under the prior WR before KK’s recent swim?

PFA
Reply to  Swimgeek
1 year ago

No manadou had the WR before KK in 22.22

oxyswim
Reply to  PFA
1 year ago

Can’t set American records for mixed relay leadoffs.

Wanna Sprite?
1 year ago

22.3 from Murphy we’re not just gonna ignore that he’s in world record form rn

About Annika Johnson

Annika Johnson

Annika came into the sport competitively at age eight, following in the footsteps of her twin sister and older brother. The sibling rivalry was further fueled when all three began focusing on distance freestyle, forcing the family to buy two lap counters. Annika is a three-time Futures finalist in the 200 …

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