Danish Women Take Down European Record in 4×100 Medley Relay

2016 Rio Olympic Games

• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Swimming: August 6-13
• Olympic Aquatics Stadium, Barra Olympic Park, Rio de Janeiro
• Prelims – 9:00 a.m/12:00 p.m PST/EST (1:00 p.m local), Finals – 6:00 p.m/9:00 p.m PST/EST (10:00 p.m local)
• SwimSwam previews
• Day 8 Schedule & Results
• Live Stream (NBC)

The Danish foursome of Mie Nielsen, Rikke Moller Pedersen, Jeanette Ottesen, and Pernille Blume broke the European record in the 4×100 meter medley relay with their bronze medal performance in the final event at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday night. With a leadoff of 58.75, Nielsen had the fastest split in the field and put Denmark up by .02 over Canada and .25 over fourth-place United States heading into breaststroke. Pedersen (1:06.62) kept the Danes within .9 of Russia, who had taken over the lead with Yulia Efimova’s field-leading breaststroke. Ottesen turned in the second-fastest 100 fly (56.43) after Dana Vollmer’s, and Blume brought them home in 53.21. Denmark finished third with 3:55.01, just 1/100 behind Australia’s 3:55.01.

The Danes knocked .23 off the European record set by Sweden at the 2015 FINA World Championships in Kazan, when Michelle Coleman, Jennie Johansson, Sarah Sjostrom, and Louise Hansson finished second to China (and .32 ahead of Australia) with 3:55.24.

Here are the comparative splits:

At the conclusion of the race, Ottesen told the press in the mixed zone, “We had such a great relay. We’ve had so many opportunities to swim well. We’ve just never really succeeded. It takes four girls to swim fast and it’s hard for all girls to swim fast and today we did it and it’s been such a long operation and a long four years.”

Blume, who won the 50 free earlier in the night, added, “I don’t think I have words for it but this is just the best to finish off the Olympics with these girls. We have been together for four years and they are hardworking girls and it is amazing that we all stand here together and we all get a medal.”