Sports

US Swimmers Set Medley Relay Record at Singapore World Championships

US swimming team breaks women's 4x100 medley relay record at Singapore World Championships, overcoming health challenges to lead medal count with 9 golds and 29 total medals.

ParWei-Ling Tan
Publié le
#swimming-championships#world-record#us-swimming#singapore-sports#summer-mcintosh#katie-ledecky#international-competition
Image d'illustration pour: Americans finish strong with a relay record at swim worlds | Chattanooga Times Free Press

US women's relay team celebrates after setting new world record at Singapore World Championships

American Team Ends Championships with Historic Performance

The United States swimming team concluded the 2024 World Championships in Singapore with a spectacular finish, breaking their own record in the women's 4x100 medley relay with a time of 3:49.34. This remarkable achievement marked a strong comeback for the American squad, who had faced health challenges earlier in the competition.

Medal Count and Global Competition

The United States secured their position at the top of the medal table with 9 gold medals and 29 overall, surpassing Australia's 8 gold and 20 total medals. Canadian phenom Summer McIntosh dominated with four individual gold medals, matching a rare feat in women's swimming championship history.

Overcoming Adversity

The American team's performance was particularly noteworthy given their battle with acute gastroenteritis contracted during their training camp in Thailand. Despite these challenges, the team showed remarkable resilience in the final days of competition.

"This is the best way to end the meet," said Gretchen Walsh. "We're going to leave Singapore with a smile on our faces."

Notable Performances

The record-breaking relay team consisted of:

  • Regan Smith
  • Kate Douglass
  • Gretchen Walsh
  • Torri Huske

In other notable achievements, Katie Ledecky maintained her dominance in the 800 freestyle, while French swimmer Leon Manchand secured two individual gold medals.

Youth Impact

The championships also highlighted emerging talent, including 12-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi, who impressed with fourth-place finishes in three individual events and earned a bronze medal in a relay preliminary round.

Wei-Ling Tan

Tech and economy specialist, covering innovation in Southeast Asia from Singapore for both English-language and regional media outlets.