In an intriguing showdown between Great Britain and Russia in the mixed 4×100 medley relay, the countries put swimmers of opposite genders on each stroke. Georgia Davies led off in 59.12, leaving her more than six seconds behind Kliment Kolesnikov, only for Adam Peaty to out-split Yulia Efimova by almost eight seconds, 57.27 to 1:05.07.
James Guy extended the British lead with a 50.96 fly split, leaving it up to 17-year-old Freya Anderson to hold off Russian anchor Vladimir Morozov, the top-ranked swimmer in the world this year in the 100 free. Anderson ended up coming through with a 52.83 split, and Britain finished in 3:40.18, the second-fastest time in history and under the previous European record of 3:41.56 set by Britain at last year’s World Championships.
Russia’s Kolesnikov, Efimova, Svetlana Chimrova and Morozov finished second in 3:42.71. Notably, Kolesnikov led off in 52.51, under his 100 back world junior record of 52.53 set in the individual final earlier in the night and the same time as Ryan Murphy’s world-leading mark. However, the time will not count since it was set in a mixed-gender event.
Italy’s team of Margherita Panziera, Fabio Scozzoli, Elena Di Liddo and Alessandro Miressi took bronze in 3:44.85.
The Netherlands finished fourth in 3:45.57, beating out teams from Germany (3:45.82), Poland (3:47.72), Switzerland (3:48.26) and Sweden (3:48.53).
