Editorial content for the 2022 FINA World Championships coverage is sponsored by eo SwimBETTER.
See full event coverage.
Swim faster... faster, with game-changing data insight into your technique. eolab.com #eoSwimBETTER
World Championships: United States Wins Third Straight World Title In Women’s Medley Relay Ahead Of Australia & Canada
The United States won the women’s 4×100 medley relay from lane one to bring down the curtain on the World Championships.
The quartet of Regan Smith, Lilly King, Torri Huske and Claire Curzan stopped the clock at 3:53.78.
It was the United States’ third straight victory in the event as they finished ahead of Australia (3:54.24) and Canada (3:55.01).
United States: Smith (58.40); King (1:05.89); Huske (56.67); Curzan (52.82)
Australia: McKeown (58.77); Strauch (1:05.99); Throssell (57.19); O’Callaghan (52.30)
Canada: Masse (58.39); Nichol (1:07.17); MacNeil (56.80); Oleksiak (52.65)
- Results
- How to Watch & Key Links
- Australia Claims Top Seed In Women’s 400 Medley Relay; US Advances In Seventh
Curzan anchored the United States in 52.82 with Australian swimmer Mollie O’Callaghan reducing the deficit with each stroke in the final metres.
The American said:
“They are a really strong team so I think they’re always going to be coming but I was hoping to pull it off for the girls and just leave everything in the pool.
“Just finish the meet strong and hopefully get a gold for Team USA.”
Smith led off in 58.40, although Kylie Masse gave Canada the smallest of leads in 58.39 with Kaylee McKeown third for Australia.
Smith has now led off the team at the 2019 worlds, 2020 Olympics and in Budapest.
She said:
“I have a ton of pride. It’s really,really cool to lead off a medley relay like that for Team USA.
“We have such a strong history in this event so it’s an honour to get to do backstroke for three international meets in a row now – it’s crazy to say that, to think I’m a veteran on the relay is crazy.
“I have so much fun doing the relay and we have a great team with us today.”
Huske leaves Budapest with three golds – including the 100 fly – and three bronzes.
It was a demanding – if successful – week for the 19-year-old who said:
“I am pretty tired. I definitely felt it on the first half of the race also and I was like ‘that’s not supposed to be happening’ .
“But I had so much faith in the team and I knew I wasn’t just swimming for myself so I tried my best and it made it a lot easier knowing who I was swimming for.
“I think that got me through the race.”
King added:
“The main goal was to set a great time and of course, to win the gold. We did a pretty good race and I’m so happy because all of us are very happy.”
Jenna Strauch won silver in the 200 breaststroke and her leg of 1:05.99 was the second fastest in the field, drawing the Australians into second place.
It was her second silver of the meet and she said:
“I’m so happy now, we won a medal in an amazing battle against strong teams. I’m satisfied with our performance because it’s a very good feeling to finish the world on the podium with the silver medal.
“It means a lot for me, not just the team.”
Penny Oleksiak brought the Canadians home with an anchor leg of 52.65 to replicate the team’s third-place finish from the last two worlds.
Oleksiak, who won’t be competing at the Commonwealth Games next month, left Budapest with two silver and two bronze relay medals and said:
“I’m really excited to be part of this team and just to see how much the team has grown over the last few years.
“You always see Canada in the final and on the podium but individually I would have liked to do better.
“I was off for eight weeks, pretty much right before this meet, but I’m happy to be back and performing.”
