2019 World Championships Flashback: Mixed Medley Relay Team Claims Silver
Over the next couple weeks, we're taking you back to last summer to celebrate the success of the 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 U.S. Team at the at 2019 FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea.
Today we look at night four in Gwangju and the 4x100-meter mixed medley relay team:
The fourth day of the 2019 FINA World Championships was highlighted by a silver medal from the 4x100-meter mixed medley relay team of Ryan Murphy, Lilly King, Caeleb Dressel and Simone Manuel. The silver medal increased Team USA’s total count to eight at the halfway point of the pool competition.
The final touch came down to the wire, with Team USA finishing in 3:39.10 to finish just two one-hundredths of a second behind Australia for gold.
“Thought we did a good job, but [Australia] was just a better team tonight,” said Caeleb Dressel after the race. “It was a fun race though - about as close as it can get.”
Dressel's butterfly leg was one of the most impressive swims of the race, as he entered the water at over seven seconds behind Russia, but ended his swim with over a one-second lead against the competition. He ended up touching the wall in 49.33, marking the fastest butterfly relay split in history.
The Americans’ time of 3:39.10 marked the second-fastest performance in American history, only behind their 2017 world-record time of 3:38.56.
The 4x100m mixed medley relay will make its Olympic debut in Tokyo in 2021. Of the past three FINA World Championships competitions, Team USA has claimed one gold and two silver medals in the event.