Team USA Women Break 4×200 Freestyle Relay WUGs Record in 7:52.56, Topping Own Time from 2015

2025 World University Games

• July 17th-23rd, 2025
• Berlin, Germany
• LCM (50 Meters)
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  • Prelims: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3  | Day 4
  • Finals: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4

Women’s 4x200m Free Relay Final:

1. USA — 7:52.56 *WUGs Record
2. China – 7:57.91
3. Japan – 7:59.99
4. Italy – 8:00.82
5. Canada – 8:01.53
6. Spain – 8:01.63
7. South Africa – 8:13.23
8. Switzerland – 8:16.40

To wrap up the fourth day of the World University Games, the American women’s 4×200 free relay notched a new WUGs Record of 7:52.56, breaking the previous mark from 2015 set by the US at 7:53.88. 

The Americans led off with University of Virginia sophomore Leah Hayes, who took her opening 100 out strong in 58.04, which was 3rd at the first 100 turn. Hayes would make her move on the 3rd 50, splitting a 29.53, leapfrogging into the first position, and holding on to the top spot as she touched in 1:57.87, a new personal best from her 1:58.19 from Fort Lauderdale earlier this season. 

Taking over for Hayes was Cavalier teammate Cavan Gormsen. Gormsen opened up through the first 100 in 58.26, then dropped down to 2nd at the halfway turn of her leg. She regained the lead through the 350, when she split 30.19, a spot the Americans would maintain for the remainder of the race. She charged home in 29.57 for her final 50, to boot. 

The third leg was occupied by Lindsay Looney of Arizona State, who is currently training under Bob Bowman at Texas. Looney came out of the relay exchange and split 57.91 to extend the lead to over two seconds. Her back-half of 1:01.50 grew the lead to nearly four seconds over eventual runners-up China. 

The anchor leg would be the responsibility of Isabel Ivey. Ivey (who did her undergrad at Cal, transferred to Florida for her 5th year, where she still trains) split a blistering opening 100 (55.54), putting the rest of the field out of gold-medal contention. The final 50 was between the Americans and the clock; Ivey would touch in 1:57.23 to secure the win and the WUGs record for the US. 

WUG Record Comparison (2015 to 2025):

For Hayes and Ivey, this race marks the 3rd gold medal of the meet for each. Hayes collected gold in the 400 IM and the 400 free relay. For Ivey, this relay gold adds to previous golds in the 400 medley relay and 400 free relay. 

For Gormsen and Looney, this relay marks each of their first medals of the competition. 

Later in the meet, Hayes will take on the 200 IM as the top seed. Gormson is slated to race both the 200 freestyle, where she enters as the 7th seed, and the 400 freestyle, where she holds the 2nd seed. Looney will aim for more hardware in the 200 butterfly as the 2nd seed. Ivey will contest her lone individual event in the 200 freestyle, entering as the 6th seed.