Watch USA Women Eclipse WR in 4×100 Medley Relay (Race Video)

2017 FINA WORLD SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

The United States women wrapped up an outstanding meet with a new World Record in the 4x100m medley relay. After a 58.54 leadoff from backstroke silver-medalist Kathleen Baker, world-champion breaststroker Lilly King took over with a 1:04.48. The Americans were just 3/100 behind Russia at the halfway point. Butterfly bronze medalist Kelsi Worrell split 56.30 to take over the lead, and world-champion Simone Manuel brought it home with her signature event, going 52.23 on the 100 freestyle anchor.

Russia hung on for the silver medal, while Australia slipped past Canada for the bronze.

Watch the entire race, courtesy of NBC Sports, below:

Write-up from Karl Ortegon:

WOMEN’S 400 MEDLEY RELAY — FINAL

  • World Record: USA, 3:52.05, 2012
  • Championship Record: China, 3:52.19, 2009
  • Junior World Record: Russia, 4:01.05, 2015
  1. United States (Baker – King – Worrell -Manuel), 3:51.55
  2. Russia (Fesikova, Efimova, Chimrova, Popova), 3:53.38
  3. Australia (Seebohm, McKeown, McKeon, Campbell) 3:54.29

The Americans charged hard with four great legs as they posted a new world record time of 3:51.55. Kathleen Baker got things started with a 58.54, followed by a 1:04.48 from Lilly King, a 56.30 from Kelsi Worrell, and a 52.23 anchor leg from Simone Manuel, which is her fourth 52-low anchor in a relay final this week.

Yulia Efimova actually out-split King on the breast leg, going 1:04.03 which helped Russia to a European record and silver medal at 3:53.38. Australia picked up bronze, getting a 58.53 lead-off from Emily Seebohm and a strong 52.69 anchor from Bronte Campbell.

Kylie Masse had the fastest back leg in 58.31 as the Canadians placed fourth, while Sarah Sjöström swam a mind-boggling 55.03 fly leg though Sweden touched 5th.

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USASwimerror?
7 years ago

Interesting to see Simone swim with a straight arm recovery the first 50, switch back to her old stroke for the next 40 meters and finish straight arm. Love to see people always trying to find that edge.

SchoolingFTW
7 years ago

Amazing consistency by Aussie girls to keep their 4×100 medey medal streak unbroken despite competition getting much deeper and they are not at their best.
The last time they didn’t medal in Olympics and World Championships in this event was 1994 Rome.

Baker-King-Vollmer-Manuel
7 years ago

Baker – DOB 28 Feb 1997
King – DOB 10 Feb 1997
Worrell – DOB 15 Jul 1994
Manuel – DOB 02 Aug 1996

Richard Sports Assassin Stevens
7 years ago

What’s the secret of the US success? In fact, what the mindset, attitude, psychology, approach & tactics of all swimmers are things I’d like to hear pundits and commentators honestly and seriously tackle regularly. I’ve watched BBC coverage where focusing on Adam Peaty winning & forgetting about silver& bronze fights/stories has been mixed with trying to wax lyrical on 6th to 8th place finishes while world records and classic head to heads & three way tussles such as King v Efimova v Ruta aren’t spotlighed. Call spades spades; comment on what standards are needed, how better competition pushes others to perform (plus) or flop (minus). I’m stoked after seeing all these strokes!!!

SwimShark
Reply to  Richard Sports Assassin Stevens
7 years ago

The US college system, even if swam in yards, and the popularity of age-group swimming. Title IX also broadens the sport’s appeal and available opportunities to women. Success as an American national team swimmer means having the fortitude of overcoming intense domestic competition and pressure. If a leading swimmer blinks, another hungry newcomer is always ready to grab the spotlight. I think the decentralized training system also allows diverse coaching philosophies to emerge.

Tigerswim22
7 years ago

Totally fantastic competition over the past week. I was impressed with how well the Canadians and Great Britain have done recently – both giving Australia a run for their money in many events. Seems like the number of countries winning medals has increased, as well. Hungary was impressive, and China is very good for sure. Brazil had some excellent swims. The USA was over the top – Dressell was even better than hoped for by American fans. Ledecky was a bit off but is so talented she was still exceptional. Sjostrom was superb for Sweden, yet when she blinked in the 100 freestyle we saw Simon Manuel steal the gold. Nobody seemed safe. Witness the results of the women’s 200… Read more »

Pvdh
7 years ago

Perfect way to cap off an abosolute domination of the swimming championships. I don’t think any fans, US or not, saw this level of performance coming.

Lane Four
Reply to  Pvdh
7 years ago

A complete reversal from Kazan. This time around, so many newer international swimmers came on like a ton of bricks and we really weren’t ready for the domination. A happy surprise. Yes?

Baker-King-Vollmer-Manuel
Reply to  Lane Four
7 years ago

It’s the young whippersnappers showing the old goats (that’s right you Elizabeth Beisel) how to get the job done.

Peter L
Reply to  Baker-King-Vollmer-Manuel
7 years ago

I think you meant GOAT 😉 Beisel has been a crucial and unmissable part of the US team and will be sorely missed after she’s gone. Besides, 4:36 in a 400IM on less than half a year of training is impressive.

Baker-King-Vollmer-Manuel
Reply to  Peter L
7 years ago

I am still fumed over the Ella Eastin disqualification.

Baker-King-Vollmer-Manuel
Reply to  Peter L
7 years ago

Beisel was somehow more important to the women’s team at the 2016 Rio Olympics than Adams (team captain), DiRado, Franklin, Hannis, Schmitt, Vollmer, Weir combined? I’ll take “Momma on a Mission” any day of week.

Peter L
Reply to  Baker-King-Vollmer-Manuel
7 years ago

Importance goes way past medals. She is an inspirational leader, something you ought to know.

Baker-King-Vollmer-Manuel
Reply to  Peter L
7 years ago

Yet somehow team captains Matt Grevers (32 years old) and Nathan Adrian (28 years old) are not inspirational leaders.

Peter L
Reply to  Baker-King-Vollmer-Manuel
7 years ago

You mentioned Beisel in your comment, so I replied to your comments regarding Beisel. Of course Team USA is not short on experienced inspirational leaders, Grevers, Adrian, Meili amongst them.

Baker-King-Vollmer-Manuel
Reply to  Peter L
7 years ago

Elizabeth Beisel will be far easier replaced as an inspirational leader than Natalie Coughlin.

As for examples of inspiring performances, Maya DiRado beating the “Iron Lady” in the women’s 200 m backstroke at the 2016 Rio Olympics in Jason Lezak fashion.

Peter L
Reply to  Baker-King-Vollmer-Manuel
7 years ago

What is the hate surrounding Beisel?

Domino
Reply to  Baker-King-Vollmer-Manuel
7 years ago

Dude, did Biesel beat you up or something? Why the weird obsession with her?

Danjohnrob
7 years ago

OMG, can we please have the Canadian commentators in the future? Great job Brittany MacLean!

Lane Four
Reply to  Danjohnrob
7 years ago

This is why I purposely missed the NBC broadcast and waited for the Eurosport/Eurovision broadcast a little while later. You see EVERYTHING that went on at Worlds and not just the USA stuff courtesy of NBC. Sometimes, NBC treats it like the only people swimming are the Americans.

Danjohnrob
Reply to  Lane Four
7 years ago

Agreed. I’m as big a USA Swimming fan as you’re ever going to find, but it’s very interesting and exciting to know about the success and progress of the other top athletes at a meet like this! I’m not saying Brittany was perfect, it’s a tough job, but she really packed in the info and obviously prepared very well.

Troy
Reply to  Danjohnrob
7 years ago

This is what’s on Fina TV. The man is also Australian, not Canadian.

KeithM
Reply to  Troy
7 years ago

The man is from New Zealand. The other commentator is Brittany MacLean former Canadian swimmer (and Georgia Bulldog alum).

AvidSwimFan
Reply to  Danjohnrob
7 years ago

I do think she did a good job. But she said the last medley WR was by Missy, Soni, Vollmer, and Schmitt, not Jessica Hardy.

Ervin
Reply to  AvidSwimFan
7 years ago

That was the last medley WR lineup. Jessica Hardy wasn’t on it

AvidSwimFan
Reply to  Ervin
7 years ago

I meant she said Jessica Hardy instead of Schmitt. Hardy swam the prelims, Schmitt swam the final.

Zanna
Reply to  Danjohnrob
7 years ago

She was on point with her facts. Plus she has personal relationships with many of the US swimmers since she trained in Georgia and was able to narrate their stories/personal journeys.

About Anne Lepesant

Anne Lepesant

Anne Lepesant is the mother of four daughters, all of whom swam in college. With an undergraduate degree from Princeton (where she was an all-Ivy tennis player) and an MBA from INSEAD, she worked for many years in the financial industry, both in France and the U.S. Anne is currently …

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