Athletes who have made Olympic Swimming history for Japan
Today, 14 August, is Japanese Swimming Day, and with the 2023 Induction of Kusoke Kitajima, ISHOF looks back at the incredible achievements of Japanese Olympians in the pool.
Shared from Olympics.com
Swimming(Photo Credit: 2012 Getty Images)
Swimming has brought many Olympic medals to Japan – 80, in fact – the third-highest total for the nation behind artistic gymnastics (98) and judo (84) – and in terms of gold, swimming ranks fourth with 22.
TSURUTA Yoshiyuki was the first Japanese athlete to ever to win gold in consecutive Olympic Games (Amsterdam 1928 and Los Angeles 1932), while MAEHATA Hideko was the first Japanese woman to win an Olympic gold medal (Berlin 1936).
But how much do you know of these other facts?
Breaststroke is Japan’s strongest event – earning the country 12 gold medals
Twelve of Japan’s 22 gold medals have come from breaststroke. With six gold in the men’s 200m event as well as three each in both the men’s 100m and the women’s 200m, it is without a doubt, Japan’s speciality.
Both Tsuruta and Maehata won their gold medals in the 200m breaststroke. Among the many accomplishments of Japan’s swimmers, KITAJIMA Kosuke’s feat of winning back-to-back golds at consecutive Olympic Games in the men’s 100m and 200m, is undoubtedly a historic milestone for Japan.
Kosuke Kitajima Photo Credit: Getty Images
Another unforgettable achievement was by IWASAKI Kyoko.
Appearing at the Barcelona 1992 Games at the age of 14, Iwasaki put on an incredible burst of speed in the final stages of the women’s 200m breaststroke and made history by becoming the youngest ever swimmer to claim gold. The event remains one of the greatest moments in Japan’s Olympic history.
Japan continues to fare well in the breaststroke as evidenced by KANETO Rie gracing the podium in the women’s 200m event at Rio 2016. At the Tokyo 2020 Games, hopes are high that former 200m breaststroke world record holder, WATANABE Ippei, will be among those battling for gold.
Rie Kaneto Photo Credit: Getty Images
The scintillating rise of Hagino and Seto
While Japan has exhibited stability and strength in the breaststroke in the past decade, their swimmers have also begun to achieve remarkable results in the individual medley events.
At the London 2012 Games, HAGINO Kosuke – a 17-year-old high school student at the time – edged out Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, in the 400m individual medley to snatch the bronze medal. It was the first time a Japanese male swimmer had ever achieved such a feat and eventually established Hagino as a multi-event swimmer. At Rio 2016, he won three medals a gold in the 400m individual medley, silver in the 200m individual medley, and bronze in the men’s 4x200m team medley relay.
Photo Credit: GettyImages-586858958
Meanwhile, Hagino’s long-time friend and rival, SETO Daiya has also made good progress. At Rio 2016, he earned a bronze medal in the 400m individual medley. At the World Swimming Championships in 2019, he claimed gold in both the 200m and 400m individual medleys, which earned him a spot in the same events on Japan’s swimming team for the Tokyo 2020 Games.
With two more titles – in the 400m individual medleys from the same championships in 2013 and 2015 – there is no denying his competitiveness at international events.
Turning our eyes to the women’s category, OHASHI Yui continues to raise hopes. Since TAJIMA Yasuko won silver in the 400m individual medley at the Sydney 2000 Games, Japan has not seen a medal of any colour in this event. Having claimed silver and bronze in the World Swimming Championships in 2017 and 2019, respectively, Ohashi appears to be ready to stake her claim for a podium place at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Japan’s medals in backstroke and butterfly
A swimming style that has brought two gold medals to Japan in the past is backstroke. Both are from the men’s 100m events; one by KIYOKAWA Masaji at Los Angeles 1932 and the other by SUZUKI Daichi at Seoul 1988.
Suzuki had developed the dolphin kick, first used by American Jesse Vassallo, to the point where he was able to proceed roughly 25m underwater, and this kick later became synonymous with backstroke.
Ryosuke Irie
In the men’s category, IRIE Ryosuke, who won bronze in the 100m backstroke and silver in the 200m backstroke at London 2012, still reigns supreme to this day. The backstroke specialist, who will turn 31 in 2021, is striving to make the Tokyo 2020 Games the climax of his career.
For the women’s events both NAKAMURA Reiko and TERAKAWA Aya among others have earned medals at four consecutive Games from Sydney 2000 to London 2012, raising Japan’s international presence in the event.
In the butterfly, Japan has seen only one gold medal – won by AOKI Mayumi in the women’s 100m event at Munich 1972. However, Japanese swimmers have had podium finishes at all editions of the Games since Athens 2004.
In the men’s category, YAMAMOTO Takashi and MATSUDA Takeshi won silver and bronze in the 200m events.
At the Rio 2016 Games, SAKAI Masato won silver in the same event, nearly denying Michael Phelps victory by just 0.04 seconds. Seto, whose main focus is the individual medley, also thrives at butterfly events, and is eyeing a medal at Tokyo 2020.
In the women’s events, HOSHI Natsumi, who won bronze medals at both London 2012 and Rio 2016, has been Japan’s main hope in this event for the past few years.
Masato Sakai Photo Credit: Getty Images
Japan has long struggled in the freestyle
It could be said that the freestyle is not Japan’s strong point in recent years.
Although SHIBATA Ai won gold in the women’s 800m freestyle event at Athens 2004, majority of Japan’s medals in this stroke were won prior to 1960 – however, at Rio 2016, Japan emerged with a bronze medal in the men’s 4x200m relay for the first time since Tokyo 1964.
In addition, several freestylers who have recently proved themselves a match for overseas swimmers have begun to come to the fore. Among these is MATSUMOTO Katsuhiro, who won silver in the men’s 200m freestyle at the 2019 World Championships.
Ai Shibata Photo Credit: Gettty Images
Golden hopes in the relay
Japan has produced results not only in individual events but also in relays.
At London 2012, Japan’s team had three individual medallists: IRIE Ryosuke, KITAJIMA Kosuke and MATSUDA Takeshi, who managed to win silver in the men’s 4x100m medley relay.
The women’s team also won bronze in the same event. At the Tokyo 2020 Games, the 4x100m mixed medley relay, in which a team of four consisting of two men and two women competes, will take place as a new event.
Hopes are high in Japan that the host nation will fare well and dominate the event.
Photo Credit: GettyImages-149813297
Did you see Katie Ledecky visit Kaitlin Collins on CNN last night? She was great!!!!
https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=324440093274005
Katie Ledecky was on CNN last night, Monday, August 7, 2023, visiting and chatting with Kaitlin Collins. Katie is so poised, gracious and well spoken, and such a great representative of USA Swimming and our young athletes. We should all be so proud of her.
If you missed the interview we have posted it here; so enjoy, and watch what an amazing well-adjusted young woman of 26 looks and sounds like!
We have much to be proud of! Go Katie!!!!
USA Swimming Announces 2024 Schedule around Olympic Trials
by MATTHEW DE GEORGE – SENIOR WRITER
07 August 2023,
USA Swimming Announces 2024 Schedule around Olympic Trials
USA Swimming on Monday announced its schedule of events for 2024, the tentpole of which is U.S. Olympic Team Trials in June.
The year will start with three TYR Pro Swim Series dates – in Knoxville, Tenn., Jan. 10-13; Westmont, Ill., March 6-9; and San Antonio, Texas, April 10-13.
Open water championships will be held in Sarasota, Fla., May 3-5. It all builds up to Olympics Trials in Indianapolis from June 15-23, selecting the team for the Paris Olympic Games.
While swimmers are away in Paris, the Speedo Summer Champs will be held in Irvine, Calif., from July 23-27. The senior and junior championships will be combined at that event.
The Toyota U.S. Open will be held Dec. 4-7 at a site to be determined.
New to the schedule is the Club Excellence Challenge Series, in which USA Swimming has partnered with three existing meets as a last tune-up for Trials. From the press release: “Prize money will be awarded by USA Swimming to the top three finishers in each event determined from combined results across all three meets, with a leaderboard posted on usaswimming.org.”
2024 USA Swimming Calendar
Jan. 10-13: TYR Pro Swim Series, Knoxville, Tenn.
March 6-9: TYR Pro Swim Series, Westmont, Ill.
April 10-13: TYR Pro Swim Series, San Antonio, Texas
May 3-5: Open Water National and Junior National Championships Sarasota, Fla.
May 1-5: 18&U Spring Cups at Elkhart, Ind; Mesa, Ariz; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
May 15-18: Club Excellence Challenge Series, Irvine, Calif. (Speedo Grand Challenge); Atlanta, Ga. (Atlanta Classic); and Austin, Texas (Longhorn Elite Invite)
June 15-23: U.S. Olympic Team Trials, Indianapolis, Ind.
July 23-27: Speedo Summer Champs (senior and junior), Irvine, Calif.
July 24-28: Futures Meet in Huntsville, Ala.; Austin, Texas; Minneapolis, Minn.; Sacramento, Calif.; and Richmond, Va.
Dec. 4-7: Toyota U.S. Open (25y), site TBA
Dec. 11-14: Speedo Winter Juniors East and West, sites TBA
Subscribe
PAN AM Aquatics Artistic Championship, August 10-13 at Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center
by: Laura Voet
Date: August 7, 2023
USA Artistic Swimming will host the 2023 Pan Am Aquatics Artistic Swimming Championship & Athletes with Disability Invitational at the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center August 10th – 13th.
It will be the first artistic swimming event hosted at the new facility. Participating countries include Aruba, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curacao, Peru, Mexico and the United States of America. Over 250 athletes ranging in age from 11 to 22 years old will participate in four days of competition at the facility. The athletes represent both national federation teams as well as international and domestic clubs.
The USA will be represented by club routines that earned invitations to compete through domestic championships. In addition to the Pan Am Aquatics Championship, there will also be an invitational hosted for athletes with disabilities. Fifteen AWD athletes from three countries will participate. Tickets for spectators will be available on the USA Artistic Swimming website.
Kosuke Kitajima joins the most famous names in Japanese swimming: Tsuruta, Furukawa, Furuhashi, Kiyokawa and Kitamura as he will be inducted into ISHOF as an Honor Swimmer, September 30 ~
Kosuke Kitajima becomes the twentieth Honor Swimmer from Japan to be inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. Japan is a small country but dominated the world of swimming in the 1920’s and 1930’s with stars like Yoshiyuki Tsuruta, Masaru Furukawa, Hironoshin Furuhashi, Masaji Kiyokawa and Kuoso Kitamura.
There was a lapse after the war and it took many years for them to regain the power they once had. In 1972 Nobutaka Taguchi won gold in the 100-meter breaststroke and Mayumi Aoki won gold in the 100-meter butterfly. Taguchi also won bronze in the 200 breaststroke, but it was very sporatic before and after that point.
But after Daichi Suzuki won the gold medal in the 100-meter backstroke, in 1988 in Seoul, South Korea, it once again gave the Japanese hope and slowly things started to change. After Suzuki’s victory, the world start seeing more Japanese in the Olympic Games. Suzuki is now the President of the Japanese Swimming Federation, and Japanese names are now frequently in the finals of those Games. Names like Kusoke Kitajima. Kitajima specialized in the breaststroke. In his first Olympic Games in 2004, he captured gold medals in the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke and then took bronze, swimming the breaststroke leg of the 4 x 100 medley relay representing his homeland. During the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, he did an exact repeat of the 2004 Games, winning the gold medal in the 100 and 200m breaststroke, while also breaking the world record in the 100, in a time of 58.91. By winning back-to-back medals in 2004 and 2008, Kitajima became the first and only swimmer ever to sweep the breaststroke at consecutive Olympic Games. He and his team also won the bronze again in 2008 in the medley relay, and again in 2012, Kitajima and the relay team bettered it in London by winning silver. In the end, Kitajima won four gold, one silver and two bronze medals in Olympic competition.
Kitajima’s most significant rival was American and ISHOF Honoree, Brendan Hansen. The two men dueled it out at all the major events, such as the FINA World Championships and the Olympic Games. Kitajima set world records in both the 100 and 200m breaststroke, finishing his career by breaking seven world records. In all, Kitajima has competed in six (long course) World Championships. At the 2013 World Championships, he won bronze in the medley relay, extending his national record to 12, three gold, four silver and five bronze. He is a 16-time medalist at the FINA World Cup events, winning four gold, nine silver and three bronze.
Come join Kitajima-san and this year’s spectacular class of 2023 in Ft. Lauderdale. If you cannot join us, consider making a donation. To make a donation, click here: https://ishof.org/donate/
Purchase your tickets here to the ISHOF Honoree Induction Ceremony (Saturday, September 30, 2023) via Ticketmaster:
Class of 2023 Honorees
Bob Bowman (USA) / Honor Coach
Chris Carver (USA) / Honor Coach
Cesar Cielo (BRA) / Honor Swimmer
Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) / Honor Swimmer
Missy Franklin (USA / Honor Swimmer
Natalia Ischenko (RUS) / Honor Synchronized Swimmer
Kosuke Kitajima (JPN) / Honor Swimmer
Heather Petri (USA) / Honor Water Polo Player
Michael Phelps (USA) / Honor Swimmer
Wu Minxia (CHN / Honor Diver
Sam Ramsamy (RSA) / Honor Contributor
Stephane Lecat (FRA) / Honor Open Water Swimmer
Trischa Zorn (USA) / Honor Paralympic Swimmer
Friday, September 29, 2023
2023 ISHOF Aquatic Awards – Presented by AquaCal(Formerly the Paragon Awards)
2023 ISHOF Specialty Awards
Purchase Friday Night Tickets Here
Friday, September 29th Schedule:
5:00 – Cocktails and hors d’oeuvresOceanview Veranda Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach, 3030 Holiday Drive, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 954.525.40006:00 – Awards Ceremony Caribbean BallroomFort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach8:30 – Dinner on own
ISHOF Aquatic Awards Presented by AquaCal
Swimming: Mike Unger (USA)Diving: Ellie Smart (USA)Water Polo: Mark Koganov (AZB)Synchro: Maria Jose Brunel (ESP)Aquatic Safety: Cullen Jones (USA)Recreational Swimming: Sofia Forte (USA)
ISHOF Specialty Awards
John K. Williams Jr. Award: Gail M. Dummer (USA)Judge Martin Award: Norm Taplin (USA)ISHOF Service Award: Laura Voet (USA)Buck Dawson Author’s Award: Elaine K. Howley (USA)Buck Dawson Author’s Award: Tom Gompf (USA)Al Schoenfield Media Award: John Lohn Virginia Hunt Newman Award: Amanda Gawthrope
Sammy Lee Award: TBA
Duraflex Award: TBA
**All ticket sales are final unless event is canceled**
HOTEL INFORMATION
Host Hotel: Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa
The Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa, (3030, Harbor Drive, Fort Lauderdale, 33316, 954. 525.4000) site of the Friday night awards ceremony is our host hotel. The hotel has given us a special rate of $229 per room night. Please make your reservations through the link below prior to August 29.
(Be sure to say you do not want the resort fee or you will be charged $259)
To make reservations click here: https://book.passkey.com/e/50527236
Upscale retreat with private beach access, two pools, four restaurants, full-service spa and oceanside bar. Location of the Friday evening awards ceremony.
¼ mile south of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
($30 Resort fee – Guests can opt out if not interested in resort amenities)
Additional Hotel Option:
Courtyard Marriott Fort Lauderdale Beach, 440 Seabreeze Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316
(954) 524-8733.
Click Here: Book your group rate for Honoree Ceremony
Special ISHOF Guest Rate of $169 – $189 per night
Honoree Ceremony September 29-30, 2023: Last Day to Book: Friday, August 31, 2023
Wacky Wednesday: A laugh for you today
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPkVY2Lrum0&t=5s
BUY your ISHOF Honoree Induction Ceremony Tickets (September 30, 2023) now available via our beautiful new venue: The Parker Playhouse!
BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE:
Class of 2023 Honorees
Bob Bowman (USA) / Honor Coach
Chris Carver (USA) / Honor Coach
Cesar Cielo (BRA) / Honor Swimmer
Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) / Honor Swimmer
Missy Franklin (USA / Honor Swimmer
Natalia Ischenko (RUS) / Honor Synchronized Swimmer
Kosuke Kitajima (JPN) / Honor Swimmer
Heather Petri (USA) / Honor Water Polo Player
Michael Phelps (USA) / Honor Swimmer
Wu Minxia (CHN / Honor Diver
Sam Ramsamy (RSA) / Honor Contributor
Stephane Lecat (FRA) / Honor Open Water Swimmer
Trischa Zorn (USA) / Honor Paralympic Swimmer
Friday, September 29, 2023
2023 ISHOF Aquatic Awards – Presented by AquaCal(Formerly the Paragon Awards)
2023 ISHOF Specialty Awards
Purchase Friday Night Tickets Here
Friday, September 29th Schedule:
5:00 – Cocktails and hors d’oeuvresOceanview Veranda Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort and Spa
3030 Holiday Drive, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 954.525.40006:00 – Awards Ceremony Caribbean BallroomFort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach8:30 – Dinner on own
ISHOF Aquatic Awards Presented by AquaCal
Swimming: Mike Unger (USA)Diving: Ellie Smart (USA)Water Polo: Mark Koganov (AZB)Synchro: Maria Jose Bilbao (ESP)Aquatic Safety: Cullen Jones (USA)Recreational Swimming: Sofia Forte (USA)
ISHOF Specialty Awards John K. Williams Jr. Award: Gail M. Dummer (USA)Judge Martin Award: Norman Taplin (USA)ISHOF Service Award: Laura Voet (USA)Buck Dawson Author’s Award: Elaine K. Howley (USA)Buck Dawson Author’s Award: Tom Gompf (USA)Al Schoenfield Media Award: John Lohn Virginia Hunt Newman Award: Amanda Gawthrope
**All ticket sales are final unless event is canceled**
HOTEL INFORMATION
Host Hotel: Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa
The Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa, (3030, Harbor Drive, Fort Lauderdale, 33316, 954. 525.4000) site of the Friday night awards ceremony is our host hotel. The hotel has given us a special rate of $229 per room night. Please make your reservations through the link below prior to August 29.
(Be sure to say you do not want the resort fee or you will be charged $259)
To make reservations click here: https://book.passkey.com/e/50527236
Upscale retreat with private beach access, two pools, four restaurants, full-service spa and oceanside bar. Location of the Friday evening awards ceremony.
¼ mile south of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
($30 Resort fee – Guests can opt out if not interested in resort amenities)
Additional Hotel Option:
Courtyard Marriott Fort Lauderdale Beach, 440 Seabreeze Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316
(954) 524-8733.
Click Here: Book your group rate for Honoree Ceremony
Special ISHOF Guest Rate of $169 – $189 per night
Honoree Ceremony September 29-30, 2023: Last Day to Book: Friday, August 31, 2023
Watch WORLD AQUATICS “Legends of Fukuoka”
World Championships, Day Eight Finals: United States Breaks Through With Dominant Men’s Medley Relay Win
American backstroker Ryan Murphy — Photo Courtesy: Andrea Masini / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
by DAVID RIEDER – SENIOR WRITER
30 July 2023, 05:55am
World Championships, Day Eight Finals: United States Breaks Through With Dominant Men’s Medley Relay Win
The top of the podium has proved elusive for the United States thus far at the World Championships. The Americans have won a substantial share of medals, tying the second-most-prolific performance in the pool in Worlds history in terms of overall count, but they had won only four gold medals entering the meet’s final day. Significantly, they had missed winning all previous relays, earning silver or bronze on each occasion despite solid performances.
But the U.S. foursome in the men’s 400 medley relay broke that pattern in dramatic fashion, with some California Golden Bear and New Jersey flair. Poised to face a challenge from upstart China, fueled by triple breaststroke gold medalist Qin Haiyang handling that stroke, the U.S. team never trailed.
On backstroke, Ryan Murphy jumped out to a lead of more than one second. He touched in 52.04, ahead of his winning time of 52.22 from the individual 100-meter final. In comparison, China’s Xu Jiayu, likely fatigued after earning bronze in the 50 back final earlier in the evening, swam a time of 53.39 that was three-quarters of a second behind his time from the individual final, where he placed fourth in 52.64.
Qin went to work on breaststroke to close the gap on American Nic Fink, but the 30-year-old who finished in a three-way tie for silver in the 100 breast did not yield. He split 58.03, the quickest mark of his career, so Qin only narrowed the margin by seven tenths with his 57.43 split. The Americans owned an eight-tenth lead at the halfway point, giving way to a pair of rookies, both New Jersey-natives like Fink and both representing Cal, Murphy’s alma mater, in collegiate competition. Both men were finishing off extremely impressive senior international debuts this week in Fukuoka.
In his first international relay final one day after claiming bronze in the individual 100 fly, Dare Rose shined on his leg with a 50.13 split. A pair of swimmers surpassed Rose on that leg, with France’s Maxime Grousset blasting a 49.27 that only Caeleb Dressel has ever surpassed and Australia’s Matt Temple went 50.10. But butterfly was China’s weakest leg, with Wang Changhao splitting 51.56, allowing Rose to give the Americans a lead of more than one second.
“It was super special,” Rose said of his swim and the entire race. “I knew we had two veterans on the team, so obviously didn’t want to let them down. Obviously wanted to do something special at the same time. I just put my head down at the wall, made sure I touched.”
As Jack Alexy entered the pool to anchor, the U.S. team was in an ideal spot. Alexy broke out in Fukuoka with a pair of unexpected individual silver medals in the 100 free and 50 free along with a relay silver and bronze entering the final day, and Alexy would not be caught here, splitting 47.00 to bring the Americans home with a convincing victory.
The final time for the Americans was 3:27.20, the second-fastest relay performance ever, behind only the Americans’ world record of 3:26.78 set at the Tokyo Olympics. They beat the championship record of 3:27.28 set by the U.S. during the polyurethane-suit World Championships in 2009.
The win was the first world title for the Americans in this event since 2017 after a pair of dramatic finishes left the U.S. with silver. Last year, Italy rode a strong front half to a world title (before surprisingly failing to make the final this year) while Great Britain was victorious in 2019 thanks to Adam Peaty’s breaststroke brilliance and Duncan Scott posting the second-quickest freestyle split ever.
“I love finishing that way. Going into that race, we take a lot of pride in racing for the U.S. and really having great swimmers over all four strokes, that gives us a lot of confidence behind the blocks,” Murphy said. “I think it’s a really resilient group. Coming out of the meet, we all know that there’s room to improve for next year, and I think everyone’s leaving this meet really hungry and really motivated. At the same time, it’s nice to have that little confidence boost at the end of the meet and we can take that excitement and build on it.”
Fink added that even though Rose and Alexy were each swimming in this position for the first time, he believed in their capabilities to secure this gold medal based on their track records of performance throughout the week.
“I think they were confident enough. They’re good enough to where they stepped up big this week,” Fink said. “I don’t think they were relying on us to get them a big lead. They knew what they had to do and we knew what we had to do. In that sense, we were all going into it knowing we had a job to do, and we were able to accomplish the job.”
China, with Pan Zhanle anchoring with the field’s quickest split at 46.62, grabbed silver in 3:29.00. The achievement was China’s first-ever medal in the men’s 400 medley relay. Australia ended up earning bronze as Kyle Chalmers came home in 46.62, joining Bradley Woodward, Zac Stubblety-Cook and Temple to swim a time of 3:29.62. The men’s medley was seemingly Australia’s weakest relay, but this foursome got onto the podium to ensure a podium finish in all four events.
France, with Yohann Ndoye-Brouard, Leon Marchand and Hadrian Salvan joining Grousset, placed fourth in 3:29.88, while Great Britain ended up fifth in 3:30.16 after a strong 46.93 anchor leg from Matt Richards.
World Championships, Day Eight Finals: Team USA Delivers Golden Finale In Women’s 400 Medley Relay
GOLDEN START: Regan Smith gave the USA a gold medal start in the 4x100m medley relay. Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick.
Editorial content for the 2023 World Aquatics Championships is sponsored by FINIS, a longtime partner of Swimming World and leading innovator of suits, goggles and equipment.
by IAN HANSON – OCEANIA CORRESPONDENT
30 July 2023,
World Championships, Day Eight Finals: Team USA Delivers Golden Finale In Women’s 400 Medley Relay
Team USA has finished the 20th World Championships on a golden high, winning the women’s 4x100m medley relay for the ninth time since 1978 and its fourth straight crown in six years – as the Americans enjoyed its best night of the week winning three gold.
The US girls – Regan Smith (backstroke), Lilly King (breaststroke), Gretchen Walsh (butterfly) and Katie Douglas (freestyle) put on a show to lead from the opening leg to touch first in 3:52.08.
Australia with Kaylee McKeown, Abbey Harkin, Emma McKeon and Mollie O’Callaghan chased the US home to take the silver in 3:53.37 with the Canadian quartet Kylie Masse, Sophie Angus, Maggie McNeil and Summer McIntosh holding on for a brave bronze in 3:54.12.
Former 100m backstroke world record holder, Smith, gave the Americans the best possible start, beating Australian nemesis McKeown for the first time in a final this week with an opening split of 57.68 – just 0.23 off McKeown’s world mark – and the US were never headed.
Smith gave Lilly King clear water and the breaststroke queen delivered like she has in every relay since 2017, touching in a stunning 1:04.93 and followed by Walsh who hung tough in 57.06 before the versatile Douglas delivered the gold on a platter, splitting 52.41.
King has been the one constant over the last four world championship wins and Smith, who set her first world record leading off in the team’s 2019 victory has stood on the podium alongside King for the last three in Gwangju, Budapest and now Fukuoka.
They will now set themselves to wrest the Olympic title back from the Australians who surged to the gold in Tokyo in 2021 but who were no match for the Americans today.
For the Aussies, it was triple backstroke world champion here, McKeown touching in second in 57.91, followed by Harkin holding third with a breaststroke split of 1.07.07, with McKeon touching fourth in the fly in 56.44.
Two-time 100 and 200m world champion here, Mollie O’Callaghan taking the Dolphins into the silver medal position with the fastest freestyle split of the day, touching in 51.95.
The Canadians were in second place for the first three legs, led off by the Masse in 58.74, followed by Angus in 1:06.21, Olympic butterfly champion McNeill in the second fastest time of the day in 55.69 before McIntosh finished in 53.48 to put the Canucks on the podium.