A Special Thanks to Deep Blue Media for providing the images from this meet FLASH…World Championships, Day 4, Men’s Events: US Foursome In Awesome World Record Breaking 4x200m Freestyle Relay Win The U.S. men’s 4x200m freestyle relay team smashed the world record in a sensational gold medal swim to wrap up an extraordinary night’s swimming at the Melbourne Sports And Aquatic Centre. The Americans were never headed from the get go when 400m freestyle gold medallist Kieran Smith opened proceedings with a sizzling 1:41.04 first leg before handing over to Carson Foster (1:40.48) and then Trenton Julian (1:41.44), before Drew Kibler (1:41.16) brought the team home in fine style. Collectively the US stopped the clock at 6 mins 44.12 seconds 2.79 seconds faster than the previous world mark of 6:46.81, set by Brazil at the 2018 Championships in Hangzhou. The gallant Australian team were also under the old world time, clocking 6:46.54 to set a new Oceania, Commonwealth and Australian record with Italy, having a whale of a meet, taking bronze in 6:49.63. The Dolphins started off with 400m freestyle silver medallist Thomas Neill who opened proceedings in 1:41.50, as he chased home Smith, just like he did two nights ago before handing over to “King” Kyle Chalmers who clocked the fastest split of the night of 1:40.35, marginally quicker than Foster before young gun Flynn Southam produced a ripped 1:41.50, leaving Olympic champion from Rio, Mack Horton to bring the team home in 1:43.19. The exuberant Italians celebrated as if they had won the gold at the World Championships, with their anchor man Paolo Bonnin Conti producing a bronze medal winning anchor swim of 1:41.58 – the fastest of the Italians – overhauling Korea who had over a three second lead at the end of the third leg. Here is a look at the results from that relay, including the splits of the world record:
