Huske Splits 52.06 To Help US Women Break American Record With 3:30.02 4×100 Free Relay

2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

WOMEN’S 4×100-METER FREESTYLE RELAY – FINAL

  • World Record: 3:27.96 – Australia (M. O’Callaghan, S. Jack, M. Harris, E. McKeon), 2023 
  • World Junior Record: 3:36.19 – Canada (T. Ruck, P. Oleksiak, R. Smith, K. Sanchez), 2017
  • Olympic Record: 3:29.69 – Australia (B. Campbell, C. Campbell, M. Harris, E. McKeon), 2021
  • 2021 Winning Time: 3:29.69 – Australia (B. Campbell, C. Campbell, M. Harris, E. McKeon)
  • 2021 Bronze Medal Winning Time: 3:32.81

Final: 

  1. GOLD: Australia (O’Callaghan, Jack, McKeon, Harris), 3:28.92
  2. SILVER: USA (Douglass, G. Walsh, Huske, Manuel), 3:30.20
  3. BRONZE: China (Yang, Cheng, Zhang, Wu), 3:30.30
  4. Canada, 3:32.99
  5. Sweden, 3:33.79
  6. France, 3:34.99
  7. Great Britain, 3:35.25
  8. Italy, 3:36.51

The US women’s 4×100 free relay swam to a new American record on night 1 of competition in Paris, swimming to a 3:30.20 for a silver medal. The relay of Kate Douglass, Gretchen Walsh, Torri Huske, and Simone Manuel combined to break the old record of a 3:31.02 that was set back at the 2019 World Championships.

Split Comparison

US- 2024 Olympics
US- 2019 Worlds
1st Kate Douglass 52.98 Mallory Comerford 52.98
2nd Gretchen Walsh 52.55 Abbey Weitzeil 52.66
3rd Torri Huske 52.06 Kelsi Dahlia 53.46
4th Simone Manuel 52.61 Simone Manuel 51.92
FINAL TIME 3:30.20 3:31.02

Douglass led off in a 52.98, matching exactly what Mallory Comerford led off in back in 2019. Walsh on the 2nd split put the US ahead while Huske’s 52.06 on the 3rd leg put the record away. Manuel anchored to keep her name in the record books.

Huske had a perfect exchange with a 0.00 reaction time. Huske’s swim is also her fastest relay split ever. The US women’s reaction times were impressive overall as Douglass led off in a 0.66 reaction time, Walsh had a 0.35 at the 2nd exchange, and Manuel with a 0.28 on the anchor.

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Still Swimming
3 months ago

I think that it is time for the US to retire Manuel as anchor in final relays. She nearly cost the US second place. Had she had a faster exchange and not oscillated in her speed (especially in the last 15 – 10 meters. Her M per S rate was up and down rather than a constant increase). The anchor should not be posting the second slowest lap for a relay.

Huske should have been anchor. She would have chased down Harris. I think that the results could have been different with Huske as anchor.

In comments after the race, Manuel sounded as if the US went into the race hoping for silver, at best. Far cry from… Read more »

Troyy
3 months ago

I said they’d go sub 3:30 earlier in the year and in a decent pool they probably would’ve. So close!

Awsi Dooger
3 months ago

I was hoping Manuel would take more risk on the exchange. Huske cut the gap toward the end of her leg. If Manuel had aggressively pushed the exchange and launched close to the lane line it might have put some pressure on Harris. Instead the race was over on entry.

Combined USA and Australia men’s and women’s relay times were about even. I think Australia was only a tenth or two faster. That wouldn’t have been the consensus going in.

Monty
3 months ago

Keep in mind Huske also just missed by 1/100 of DQ’ing that relay, way too close in a medal position. Great swim, but put everyone at risk for sure.

Swimz
3 months ago

Pls do correct the subject line..the silver wining time is incorrect

JimSwim22
3 months ago

I wouldn’t say 0.63 total reaction time (on exchanges) is that great. My goal world be 0.1 per exchange

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  JimSwim22
3 months ago

A fast reaction time is 0.20 in the women’s 4 x 100 meter relays.

Swimz
3 months ago

That is awesome. Hunter and huske went both faster as third leg

Freddie
3 months ago

0.00

About Anya Pelshaw

Anya Pelshaw

Anya has been with SwimSwam since June 2021 as both a writer and social media coordinator. She was in attendance at the 2022, 2023, and 2024 Women's NCAA Championships writing and doing social media for SwimSwam. She also attended 2023 US Summer Nationals as well as the 2024 European Championships …

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