2025 World Championships
- July 27 – August 3, 2025 (pool swimming)
- Singapore, Singapore
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- LCM (50m)
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Men’s 4×100 Medley Relay — Final
- World Record: 3:26.78 — United States (Murphy, Andrew, Dressel, Apple) (2021)
- World Junior Record: 3:33.19 — Russia (Zurev, Gerasimenko, Minakov, Shchegolev) (2019)
Championship Record: 3:27.20 — United States (Murphy, Fink, Rose, Alexy) (2023)- 2023 World Champion: United States (Murphy, Fink, Rose, Alexy) — 3:27.20
- 2024 Olympic Champion: China (Xu, Qin, Sun, Pan) — 3:27.46
Final:
- Neutral Athletes – B (Lifintsev, Prigoda, Minakov, Kornev) – 3:26.93 *Championship Record*
- France (Ndoye-Brouard, Marchand, Grousset, le Goff) – 3:27.96
- USA (Janton, Matheny, Rose, Alexy) – 3:28.62
- Italy – 3:28.72
- Canada – 3:29.75
- Great Britain – 3:30.63
- South Korea – 3:32.32
- Netherlands – 3:32.35
Jack Alexy swam the #2 relay split all-time to make up more than a second on Italy to help the U.S. take the bronze in the men’s medley relay tonight, dropping a phenomenal 45.95 as they touched the Italians out by a tenth.
That is the denouement of a spectacular meet for the recently graduated Cal swimmer. He returned to the podium in the 50 and 100 free this year after missing out in 2024, taking bronze in the former and silver behind David Popovici‘s #2 all-time swim in the 100.
He was out fast tonight, flipping in a scarcely-believable 21.23 as he made up more than a second on Italian anchor Carlos D’Ambrosio by the first turn. He edged past down the stretch, coming home in 24.72 to swim just the second-ever split under 46 seconds, and beat out Jason Lezak‘s legendary 46.06 anchor from 2008 for the fastest U.S. split all-time.
Top 5 Splits All-Time, Men’s 100 Free
- Pan Zhanle, 2024 (CHN) – 45.92
- Jack Alexy, 2025 (USA) – 45.95
- Jason Lezak, 2008 (USA) – 46.06
- Duncan Scott, 2019 (GBR) – 46.14
- Cesar Cielo, 2009 (BRA) – 46.22
The men’s medley relay was in danger of missing out on the podium, with some tough lineup decisions to be made after below-par performances in the individual 100 back and 100 fly. Dare Rose was brought in for the fly leg and split back-to-back 50.3s for the U.S., among the fastest in the field, while Tommy Janton had his best swims of the week today with swims of 53.21 and 53.37 on backstroke.
However, it was Alexy‘s incredible anchor leg that was the difference maker. He outsplit Italy’s Carlos D’Ambrosio by 1.38 seconds in a race decided by just 0.10 seconds, making a quick 47.33 from the 18-year-old looks almost pedestrian.
After Pan Zhanle seemed to jump light years ahead of the chasing pack with his 46.40 flat start and 45.92 split last summer, Popovici and Alexy have reminded the world of their quality by coming far closer than anyone would have expected.
Captain America?
Alexy has been a force on relays for the U.S. men here with 47.24 and 46.91 leadoffs, as well as a 46.73 anchor this morning. Now at his third major championship, he has truly stepped up as a leader of this team in Singapore, and will almost certainly be one of the swimmers selected as a team captain for the 2027 world championships if he is on the team.
He addressed some of the criticisms the U.S. have faced here in Singapore last night after his bronze medal in the 50 free, showing a maturity and poise that should endear him to coaches, swimmers and fans alike..
“There definitely is a lot of pressure on USA swimmers, because in the past decades, there have been legends in our sport that have paved the way for us. It is a privilege to be in this position, and we’re very grateful. I think a lot of people, a lot of swim fans, love the sport, and sometimes they’re really critical, sometimes they’re really supportive. So I think that’s just sports fans in general. I don’t think it’s personal at all.
The USA has a high standard of reach, and when we are considered not at that highest standard 100% of the time, we can definitely take some criticism for it. But it’s definitely fuel to the fire for the next couple years. And the theme going into this meet was setting off the tone right for LA 2028. So I think we’re continuing to do a better job at that, especially after tonight, and I’m really excited for the future.”
He waxed lyrical about his teammates after setting a world record alongside Patrick Sammon, Kate Douglass and Torri Huske in the mixed free relay last night as well.
“It’s amazing. It’s such an honour to be racing with my teammates, and we knew we’d get the job done and win. The world record was in the back of our minds, but really, it was easy to go through the ready room with these three people. As Patrick said, hopefully (this win) inspires some races tomorrow, but also the next three years going to LA.”
“I definitely had a lot of confidence in the ready room with Patrick, Kate, and Torri behind me. The team did a really good job this morning getting the job done, and we’ve just been building up each session. We knew we could definitely win tonight, and the world record was just an extra bonus, and it’s a great sign for tomorrow, the next three years leading to LA, so really excited.”
“It’s been a long week, a lot of racing, so to close it out with a world record and a gold medal with these guys is incredible. I’m super happy with the way I was able to finish this meet. It’s been a very successful one for me and Team USA as a whole.”
Now the most important swimmer on the men’s side of the roster, Alexy will be a crucial piece for the U.S. as they begin the journey towards a home Olympics in LA in 2028. He is part of an elite group of athletes in the sprint freestyles, and will be the man to build the men’s 4×100 free and medley relays around after they both took bronze. His swim tonight was merely further evidence of his ability to step up when it counts, that he has shown in spades this year.
Alexy is a no doubt a great swimmer. What I found interesting is that when Pan did 46.4, “it is not humanly possible”. But when Alexy did 45.95, also a gap compared his PB, no one questioned him. Compared with Paris, he made impressive progress, no one doubted how he made it.
Because Pan Zhanle is the avant-garde swimmer who stretched human being’s limits to set the bar higher FIRST and he’s not the one from the occidental bloc, only to make sportspeople, spectatorship and fandom get used to performances swimmers in top form might deliver.
Above is the primary reason.
Last and the least, SS.com is an American IP as you have to take it into account.
I’m sure this has already been asked, but why we are the “Neutral Athletes” allowed to swim relays if they don’t represent a country?
Dude really is a lot better at LC. I was just peeking at his times from NCs again, they’re definitely not 45.9 impressive.
And just like that – Caeleb who?
The 9 time Olympic gold medalist and world record holder Caeleb Dressel
I mean caeleb’s fly split kept the world record in the Us
Caleb Dressel is out of reach to the hero of this article, in terms of performances, versatilities, achievements and kudos resulting from such achievements.
btw. I’m not a fan of Caleb.
Alexy is the best current relay sprinter for sure. Popovici doesn’t swim relays for Romania that often, but he’s the greatest freestyler rn obviously. Pan is out of the question. One session breakthrough and humiliating swims after
Now to match that up with an amazing lead-off backstroke leg.
Hoooo boy. The potential in this race! If Jalexy can add 2 dolphin kicks off of his turn he can duck underneath the wash. 21.8 to the feet, come up, and freight train home. He held his stroke all the way in the 4×100 medley anchor. He can do it. LFG!
21.2 to the feet, breathing every 2, diving into choppy water. This swim needs to be set aside and investigated as a revolutionary point in our sport.