Day six of the 2022 FINA World Championships did not disappoint, with both rookies and veterans lighting up the pool with finals victories for Ryan Murphy, Lilly King and the men’s 4x200-meter freestyle relay, as well as sensational semi-final action, including a new American Record for Torri Huske.

The night started off with two teens in the women’s 100m freestyle: Huske, 19, and Claire Curzan, 17. Huske went out out fast (25.3), and held a lead up until the 90m mark where she got caught in a dogfight for the podium. She touched third in the tight finish in 52:92, earning bronze.

In the women’s 200m breaststroke, Lilly King and Kate Douglass were racing next to each other and saw Douglass taking the lead by the 100-meter mark. King was fifth by the 150 mark, but came roaring back for the last 50. In the end, the Americans got the job done. King touched first with a 2:22.41, while Douglass nabbed third with 2.23.20.

With 50m and 100m breaststrokes titles already, this is King’s first 200 breaststroke world title.

“I guess I’m a distance swimmer now, so that stinks, but I’m excited,” said King. “I love the tactical element of this race.”

“Getting to race next to Lilly is always fun,” said Douglass. “This is my first international 200 breaststroke final, and I didn’t know what to expect so tonight I went for it and tried to hold on at the end there, but I think this shows I still have a lot to learn about the race.”

Following the gold and bronze setting from the women, Ryan Murphy and Shaine Casas did the same in the men’s 200m backstroke. Murphy was in control the whole race and touched first with a 1:54.52, while Casas grabbed third with 1:55.35, a personal best.

“This one hurt a lot. Going in, I knew it was gonna be a competitive field. I’m giving it everything I got, and being able to go out there and execute a win means a lot to me,” said Murphy. “I’ve had an interesting career, I’ve learned you have to do everything right in and out of the pool in order to have these type of performances. What I’ve always loved about this sport is competing, I love the day-to-day grind. It never gets old…This is a really hard sport. One week out of 52 is what I focus on, so to come in and win a medal for the U.S. Is pretty special.”

Wrapping up the finals action, the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay showcased Drew Kibler, Carson Foster, Trenton Julian and Kieran Smith. Racing in the middle of pool, Kibler kept the field in view and giving the team a second-place edge with a 1:45.54. Foster surged into the front with 1:45.04, handing off a sizable lead for Julian. With almost two body-length’s lead, he continued the momentum with a 1:45.31. Smith rolled the team to victory, by over three seconds, splitting a 1:44.35, earning gold for the U.S. with a 7:00.24.

“A lot of us have been talking about this forever,” said Kibler. “It’s something we strive for in America. Want nothing but the best.”

“It felt great getting to do that with these three guys and my best friends,” said Foster.

“It’s amazing. I had complete confidence and trust in these guys, and I’m so happy to be a part of it,” said Julian.

As the anchor, Smith had briefed the men in the ready room for what needed to be done. “I told them to do that for me and they delivered. It’s the best feeling in my swimming career,” he said.

The semi-finals were equally exciting. Advancing to tomorrow’s finals is Michael Andrew (51.28) in the 100m butterfly, Phoebe Bacon (2:05.93), top seed, and Rhyan White (2:07.04), third seed, in the 200m backstroke, Andrew (21.80) in the 50 freestyle, Curzan (25.67) and Huske in the 50m butterfly in a new American Record of 25.38.

“I didn’t know the (AR) time, so I didn’t know I broke it until you just told me,” said Huske in her NBC interview after the race. “I’m really happy with how the meet’s gone so far and I’m really excited with what’s left to come.”

The United States leads with a 32 medal count.