FLASH! World Championships, Day Seven Finals: United States Blisters World Record in Mixed Freestyle Relay
The United States found itself in a unique situation entering Night Seven at the World Championships in Singapore. Through five relays, no American squad had stood on the top step of the podium. Sure, a gastrointestinal illness has affected Team USA throughout the week, but the absence of a gold medal in relay competition was still an unusual scene.
No longer.
In stylish fashion, the United States snapped its relay drought by claiming the gold medal in the 400-meter mixed freestyle relay. The foursome of Jack Alexy, Patrick Sammon, Kate Douglass and Torri Huske dominated from the start and delivered a world-record time of 3:18.48, which lowered Australia’s previous standard of 3:18.83.
Russia, competing as Neutral Athletes, won the silver medal in a European record of 3:19.68, while France picked up the bronze medal in 3:21.35.
“I think we all came out here tonight really wanting to get that first win for Team USA,” Douglass said. “And to do it in a world record, I think we all knew in the back of our minds we had that ability. And I’m really happy with how that turned out.”
The final was missing several expected medal contenders, including Australia. The Dolphins held the world record in the event and figured to contend for the title, but a subpar performance in the morning left Australia in 11th place. Also watching the final were China and Great Britain, who placed 10th and 12th in prelims. The common theme in the misses was miscalculation, as all three countries opted to save their top guns for the evening – and now will be spectating.
The United States, though, got the job done when it mattered, both in negotiating prelims and firing during the final.
A little more than an hour after winning the bronze medal in the 50 freestyle, Alexy jumpstarted the United States with a split of 46.91, the fourth time this year he has been sub-47 in the 100 freestyle. The lead provided by the Cal-Berkeley star provided the momentum needed by Team USA, and the Sammon-Douglass-Huske triumvirate put an exclamation point on the record-setting performance.
Furthering his breakout season, Sammon posted the fastest split of the field on the second leg, going 46.70. That effort put the Americans ahead by more than a second and set the table for Douglass to go 52.43 and Huske to clock 52.44. Huske has demonstrated true grit throughout the meet while being riddled with illness. Prior to anchoring the U.S. to gold in the mixed freestyle relay, she snared bronze in the 100 freestyle.
“It’s amazing,” Alexy said. “It’s such an honor to be racing with my teammates, and we knew we’d get the job done and win. The world record was in the back of our minds, but really, it was easy to go through the ready room with these three people…Hopefully, (this win) inspires some races tomorrow, but also the next three years going to L.A.”
Grousset came through for France on the leadoff leg, where he was timed in 47.62. That swim went a long way toward putting the French on the podium and was Grousset’s second medal of the session, following his gold in the 100 butterfly.
