The Relay Breakdown: Women’s 4×100 Medley

by Sam Blacker 22

June 08th, 2025 National, News

2025 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

After the conclusion of the 100 backstroke on Friday, all four stroke 100’s have been and gone in Indianapolis. The World Record holders in the 100 backstroke and butterfly won their respective events, while on breaststroke Lilly King was dethroned by Kate Douglass in her final race in the US. Torri Huske backed up her breakout freestyle performances in Paris with a new U.S. Open Record of 52.43 to round out the quartet.

All of the swimmers from the World Record-setting relay last year will be in Singapore and available for this relay. Kate Douglass and Lilly King will battle it out in the individual 100 breaststroke to decide who the coaches put on the breaststroke leg, but the other three are locked down.

So, what does all this mean for Team USA’s 4×100 medley relay this summer? We now know who will be on the team – and what a team it is.

Stroke-By-Stroke

Three of last year’s 100m champions won one of the 100s this year, with new champions in the 100 breaststroke and 100 freestyle. The math works out there because Douglass showcased her unparalleled versatility by sliding across to win the 100 breaststroke after placing 1st in the 100 freestyle in 2024.

The four winners from this year along with Lilly King give Team USA head coach Braden Holloway an almost ludicrous number of lineup options. Walsh and Huske took the top two spots between them in both the freestyle and butterfly, and Kate Douglass, 1:05.79 in the breaststroke, holds the fastest-ever 100 freestyle split from an American woman (51.79, 2023).

In fact, all four of the stroke 100 champions are 56.4 or better on the 100 fly. If you know of any other relay in history with that level of switchability, let us know.

Walsh and Huske will almost certainly swim fly-free after doing so on two relays (women’s and mixed) in Paris, but of the two it is likely Walsh’s spot that is safest. Kate Douglass could slide across to freestyle if needed, or drop out entirely if Lilly King caps off her final Worlds with some vintage breaststroke performances.

For all four women, as well as the second place finishers (King and Katharine Berkoff, this will be at least their third World or Olympic Championships. All four have swum on at least one World Record-setting relay in the past. That kind of experience cannot be understated.

Regan Smith Kate Douglass Gretchen Walsh Torri Huske
2019 LC Worlds – 4×100 medley 2024 SC Worlds – 4×100 free 2024 SC Worlds – 4×100 free 2022 SC Worlds – 4×100 medley
2024 Olympic 4×100 medley 2022 SC Worlds – 4×100 medley 2024 Olympics – 4×100 mixed medley 2024 Olympics – 4×100 mixed medley
2024 Olympic 4×100 medley 2024 Olympic 4×100 medley

First off, Regan Smith seems to save her best for relays. She has swum her best time of the meet on the relay at the last three international championships (2023 LC Worlds, 2024 Olympics, 2024 SC Worlds) and gives the US a reliable 57-mid or better split.

Katharine Berkoff is a stunningly overqualified replacement for prelims – the fifth-fastest swimmer of all time. She also has a relay World Record on her resume; the 4×100 free for the 2024 SC World Championships that Douglass and Walsh were on.

However, despite that there isn’t a debate on who will be in the final. Smith is the World record holder and has been the top American in this event since 2019. Barring injury or illness, she will swim the backstroke leg.

Breaststroke is the one leg where there is some debate. Lilly King has been a mainstay on the medley relay over the last few years, but her second place finish in the 100 does cast some doubt over that.

Douglass does have only one swim under 1:06, but like at the Tokyo Olympics the decision will come down to the individual event.

With Australia in transition this year China may be the strongest competitors, but cannot live with America’s pace on the backstroke and butterfly legs. Wan Letian, Tang Qiangting, Zhang Yufei and Yang Junxuan are their best team, although Yang recently opted out of Chinese nationals. Regardless, they have the most complete team even if someone like Wu Qingfeng replaces her.

The US should run away with this relay in Singapore. They set the World record of 3:49.63 in Paris to win by 3.5 seconds, and the add-up this year is only 0.31 slower than in 2024.

Once again, we’ll have a brief look back at the drops that the medley relay team has had from their Trials add-up, and a very rough prediction for what they may do in Singapore.

Here was what the gaps look like between the add-up from the top four at Nationals and the relay times swum later that summer since 2000.

The Numbers

Top 4
Backstroke Regan Smith – 57.69
Breaststroke Kate Douglass – 1:05.79
Butterfly Gretchen Walsh – 54.76
Freestyle Torri Huske – 52.43
Total 3:50.74
Predicted time 3:49.98

 

Fastest three flat-start times of the four stroke 100 champions:

Stroke Swimmer #1 #2 #3
Backstroke Regan Smith 57.13 57.28 57.46
Breaststroke Kate Douglass 1:05.79 1:06.27 1:06.36
Butterfly Gretchen Walsh 54.60 54.76 55.09
Freestyle Torri Huske 52.29 52.43 52.90

 

Fastest international three relay splits of the four stroke 100 champions:

Stroke Swimmer #1 #2 #3
Backstroke Regan Smith
Breaststroke Kate Douglass
Butterfly Gretchen Walsh 55.03 57.06
Freestyle Torri Huske 51.88 51.96 52.06

Flat-start add-up (last 24 months):

Stroke Swimmer Time
Backstroke Regan Smith 57.13
Breaststroke Kate Douglass 1:05.79
Butterfly Gretchen Walsh 54.60
Freestyle Torri Huske 52.29
Add-up 3:50.60

 

Flat start + relay split add-up (last 24 months):

Stroke Swimmer Time
Backstroke Regan Smith 57.13
Breaststroke Kate Douglass 1:05.79 (FS)
Butterfly Gretchen Walsh 54.60 (FS)
Freestyle Torri Huske 51.88
Total Add-up 3:50.19

 

There are a lot of other ways to put this relay together, ranging from the ‘What are you doing?’

(All times are from the past 24 months)

Backstroke Regan Smith– 57.13 Katharine Berkoff – 57.83 Katharine Berkoff – 57.83
Breaststroke Kate Douglass – 1:05.79 Lilly King – 1:04.90 Kate Douglass – 1:05.79
Butterfly Torri Huske – 55.52 Regan Smith – 55.62 Regan Smith – 55.62
Freestyle Gretchen Walsh – 52.55 Kate Douglass – 51.79 Torri Huske – 51.88
Aggregate 3:50.99 3:50.14 3:51.12

 

To the covering an off/injured swimmer

Backstroke Regan Smith – 57.13 Regan Smith – 57.13 Katharine Berkoff – 57.83
Breaststroke Lilly King – 1:04.90 Kate Douglass – 1:05.79 Kate Douglass – 1:05.79
Butterfly Torri Huske – 55.52 Gretchen Walsh – 54.60 Gretchen Walsh – 54.60
Freestyle Kate Douglass – 51.79 Simone Manuel – 52.61 Torri Huske – 51.88
Aggregate 3:49.34 3:50.13 3:50.10

 

To the two which are most likely

Backstroke Regan Smith – 57.13 Regan Smith – 57.13
Breaststroke Lilly King – 1:04.90 Kate Douglass – 1:05.79
Butterfly Gretchen Walsh – 54.60 Gretchen Walsh – 54.60
Freestyle Torri Huske – 51.88 Torri Huske – 51.88
Aggregate 3:48.51 3:49.60

The only real question is whether it will be Kate Douglass or Lilly King on the breaststroke leg, and the answer to that will come in the individual event. Douglass’ 100 freestyle also does not appear to quite be at the level it was in 2023, so expecting another sub-52 split may be overzealous.

Due to the overlap between Huske and Walsh for the top two spots in free and fly, Claire Curzan and Simone Manuel may be pulled onto the relay for prelims. Curzan qualified in the 200 backstroke, but has a best of 56.2 in the 100 fly and was 57.24 at Olympic Trials last year.

The US has not necessarily been faster on the relay than their add-up, especially in the last few years. That is what happens when you have three world record holders all on one relay – they tend to be very fast when not swimming on relays as well.

And then just for fun, here are the U.S. Nationals/Trials to summer relay drops since 2000 based on location. The circles get darker as the year gets later, and any hollow circles indicate a negative drop – that is, an increase.

In This Story

22
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

22 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Walsh-Madden-Grimes-Weinstein
3 minutes ago

As for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships, Emma McKeon has retired for AUS while Yang Junxuan has opted out for CHN. Thus, AUS will be without a medal threat in the 100 BR and the 100 FL, while CHN loses its best anchor leg.

Swimz
1 hour ago

And from where did huske had 51.96 came..torri was under 52 only one time I think..51.88..she was 52.96 leading off 400 free in 2022 Budapest..I hope its a typo

Pea Brain
Reply to  Swimz
1 hour ago

Why..do u talk..like this

Swimz
1 hour ago

Gretchen does have an 55.03 split in fly last year..its missing on this article.

Swimmer.thingz
Reply to  Swimz
9 minutes ago

It ain’t missing, her FS is just better

WaterAce
2 hours ago

Greatest medley relay team of all time argue with a wall

Boknows34
4 hours ago

The Numbers: total should be 3.50.67

Flat-start add-up (last 24 months): total should be 3.49.95

Flat start + relay split add-up (last 24 months): should be 3.49.40

Masters Swammer
4 hours ago

I think the interesting questions here are:

1) Whether Douglass or King swims.breaststroke jn finals.

2) Who swims fly in prelims.

Walsh/Huske/Douglass are so versatile it makes things complicated! I suppose another option (if King is swimming breaststroke in finals) would be to use Douglass in fly and Siroky or A. Walsh in breaststroke.

Douglass seems like a safer bet than Manuel or Curzan, based on her recent 50 fly swims. Siroky and A. Walsh were both finalists in the 100 at trials, and would be safe choices for prelims.

In contrast, Manuel and Curzan are kind of wildcards for 100 fly at this point, focusing more on freestyle and backstroke respectively.

Thomas The Tank Engine
Reply to  Masters Swammer
3 hours ago

“1) Whether Douglass or King swims breaststroke jn finals.”

We know the answer:

It’s whoever faster in the individual 100 breast.

Masters Swammer
Reply to  Thomas The Tank Engine
3 hours ago

I’ll rephrase: the interesting question is who will swim faster in the individual event.

Oddly, the answer to this seems to potentially affect who swims fly in prelims.

Walsh-Madden-Grimes-Weinstein
Reply to  Masters Swammer
12 minutes ago

Please take note of Claire Curzan’s performance in the final of the W 100 FL at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships.

Lisa
Reply to  Masters Swammer
3 hours ago

The fly leg in prelims probably gonna be swims by Curzan or maybe Douglass depends on what happens in the individual events

Swimz
Reply to  Lisa
1 hour ago

Do not think too much..Curzan has done fly LC than Douglass..2024 WC silver medalist.. anything better than 57.5 would be okay to advance

JimSwim22
Reply to  Swimz
48 minutes ago

Probably anything under 59 is good enough to make finals

Steve Nolan
Reply to  Masters Swammer
2 hours ago

Manuel would end up being the free leg in prelims, no? I don’t really see a world in which she’s swimming fly on it

Sparkle
Reply to  Masters Swammer
2 hours ago

Worlds schedule is kind of weird, the medley relay is on the final day but women’s 50 free and 50 breast are in the same session so everyone but Regan is going to have a double in that session. I think who swims breaststroke should come down to who’s faster in the 100, but given that it’s Lilly’s last meet ever, they might go with her if her and Douglass are close in the event. How cool would it be to set a WR in the final event of your career?

Also I think Curzan should swim fly in prelims since everyone else is going to be so busy throughout the week.

Walsh-Madden-Grimes-Weinstein
Reply to  Masters Swammer
24 minutes ago

2025 World Aquatics Championships
Day 8
Women’s 4 x 100 meter medley relay
Heats
Berkoff – Douglass – Curzan – Manuel

Claire Curzan could/should time trial the 100 FL during training camp.

During the evening session on Day 8, L. King will most likely be swimming in the final of the women’s 50 meter breaststroke while G. Walsh and T. Huske will most likely be swimming in the final of the women’s 50 meter freestyle.

There was no way E. Weber earned the right to swim the breaststroke leg in the heats of the women’s 4 x 100 meter medley relay at the Paris 2024 Olympics after a miserable performance in the women’s 100 meter breaststroke.

Swimmer2321
4 hours ago

Hey these are some simple time mistakes I found in the article. I don’t mean this to be a disrespect to any of the authors as you guys write so many articles really quickly, something I could never do. I don’t think Regan Smith has ever gone a 57.33 for her third fastest time, that is Kaylee’s old wr and her Olympic winning time, but I don’t think Regan has ever gone that time. You also called Torri’s US Open record the American record. For the fastest time aggregate, you have Torri’s 100 free from this meet on there instead of her silver medal-winning time from Paris. Also, Gretchen’s fastest relay splits are a bit off. She went a 55.03… Read more »

Jason
5 hours ago

US Open record for huske, not american