US Women Break Own World Record In 4×100 Medley Relay With 3:49.63 To Close Paris Games

2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

WOMEN’S 4×100 MEDLEY RELAY – FINALS

  • World Record: 3:50.40 – USA (2019)
  • Olympic Record: 3:51.60 – AUS (2021)
  • 2021 Winning Time: 3:51.60 – AUS
  • 2021 Time to Win Bronze: 3:52.60

Podium

  1. USA – 3:49.63 ***NEW WORLD RECORD***
  2. Australia – 3:53.11
  3. China – 3:53.23
  4. Canada – 3:53.91
  5. Japan – 3:56.17
  6. France – 3:56.29
  7. Sweden – 3:56.92
  8. Netherlands – 3:59.52

The US women of Regan Smith, Lilly King, Gretchen Walsh, and Torri Huske swam to new World and Olympic Records to close swimming of the 2024 Paris Olympics. They touched in a final time of a 3:49.63, breaking the old World Record of a 3:50.40 that the US set at the 2019 World Championships. The old Olympic Record stood at a 3:51.60 set by Australia at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Split Comparison

Paris (New Olympic And World Record)
Tokyo (Old Olympic Record, Australia)
US 2019 Worlds (World Record)
Back Regan Smith 57.28 Kaylee McKeown 58.01 Regan Smith 57.57
Breast Lilly King 1:04.90 Chelsea Hodges 1:05.57 Lilly King 1:04.81
Fly Gretchen Walsh 55.03 Emma McKeon 55.91 Kelsi Dahlia 56.16
Free Torri Huske 52.42 Cate Campbell 52.11 Simone Manuel 51.86
3:49.63 3:51.60 3:50.40

The biggest difference today was on the butterfly leg as Gretchen Walsh swam a 55.03, tied for the fastest butterfly split of all-time. That was over a second faster than the old World Record as Kelsi Dahlia split a 56.16.

Notably, Regan Smith and Lilly King were both on the US relay from 2019. Smith led off in a 57.57 at the time but was faster with a 57.28 today. That also was faster than Smith’s time from the individual 100 as she swam a 57.66 for silver earlier this week.

King was just off of her split from 2019 as she swam a 1:04.81 and a 1:04.90 today. King’s split today was big after she just missed the podium with a 1:05.60 to be tied for 4th in the individual 100 breast earlier this week.

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Yikes
4 months ago

Greg Meehan posted a video someone got of him crying after one of Huske’s races (I think it’s 100 free but it’s not clear). He thanks Torri for sticking with him and believing in his coaching. I’m guessing it’s been a stressful quad for him too, with all these high profile people jumping ship and all the criticism he’s been getting. Really happy for him to end up with arguably the MVP of the Olympics!

CINCOKAT
4 months ago

So damn proud of this entire USA Team!!!! They represented the US with dignity, integrity, class and the toughness of such excellent role models!!! Thanks!!!

lilly king’s engagement ring
4 months ago

Emma Weber leaving Paris with a gold and Alex Walsh leaving with nothing was not on my bingo card before Olympic Trials

dg5301
4 months ago

Yesterday someone predicted a 1:04 split for Lilly and I was one of several people doubting she could still pull that off. What an amazing final Olympic swim she had to prove us wrong.

himbo praxis
4 months ago

Huge swims all around. stoked that Berkoff gets a gold out of this too!

Hmm
4 months ago

U.S lineup for the women’s 4×100 medley relay:
Cowbell
Cowbell
Cowbell
Cowbell

JonathanNC
4 months ago

I was astonished to hear Rowdy Gaines live commentary that it was appropriate to have the final event be wrapped up by the “best female swimmer for the United States, Torri Huske”. And yes, Torri is an awesome swimmer. But are you possibly shading ‘anyone else’? Maybe … Katie Ledecky? Has Katie just become plain vanilla? Enthusiasm is great, and I love the Rowdy Gaines commentary. I’ve even heard Rowdy himself say Katie dominance is sometimes overlooked because she made incredible feel so ordinary. And here, in my opinion, is exactly what you just did, Rowdy. Katie Ledecky will be talked about fifty years from now. Yeah — words matter. (I could also make the argument that there are several… Read more »

Swimfan99
Reply to  JonathanNC
4 months ago

Torri led the team in total medals and golds. Was a part of two world record/gold medal relays. Not saying she’s a better swimmer than Katie or anyone else on the women’s team. I think Rowdy is saying she had the best meet of anyone on the team which I agree with.

Anon
Reply to  JonathanNC
4 months ago

At this meet, Torri was the best. Rowdy never said the best ever. She had the most medals, the most gold medals, and helped with 2 WR. It was appropriate.

BingBopBam
Reply to  JonathanNC
4 months ago

She absolutely was the best swimmer for the United States at these Games with regard to contribution to team/country performance and medal counts.

Swimdad
4 months ago

Well, that ends the debate of who wins the medal table.

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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