It took until the final race of the Olympic swimming competition, but the United States went home with a lead in the gold medal count — and a world record to boot.
Team USA edged ahead of Australia to win its eighth gold in the women’s 4×100-meter relay final, setting a world record with a 3:49.63 ahead of Australia in second and China in third.
The foursome of Torri Huske, Lilly King, Regan Smith and Gretchen Walsh led wire to wire and was unchallenged for the duration.
From left: USA’s Gretchen Walsh, Lilly King, Regan Smith and Torri Huske celebrate winning the 4×100 medley relay at the Olympics on Aug. 4, 2024. REUTERS
That handed the United States a decisive eighth gold medal after it came into Sunday with six, one behind the Australians.
Team USA also led the overall swimming medal count, with 28 to Australia’s 18.
2024 PARIS OLYMPICS
- Today’s schedule, results, medal counts and more updates
- Scottie Scheffler wins Olympic gold in wild final round as LIV Golf star collapses
- Novak Djokovic wins first Olympic gold over Carlos Alcaraz to complete Golden Slam
- What doomed Sha’Carri Richardson in the 100-meter final at the Olympics
- Boxer in Olympics gender controversy declares ‘I am a woman’ after medal-clinching win
The meet looked to be going in the wrong direction, and there were two appointments, including Caeleb Dressel failing to win an individual medal.
It was not an American who broke out as a swimming superstar, but France’s Leon Marchand on the men’s side and Canada’s Summer McIntosh on the women’s side.
Gretchen Walsh, Lilly King and Regan Smith greet teammate Torri Huske after they win the 4x100m medley relay at the Olympics on Aug. 4, 2024. Getty Images
However, the combined star power and depth on the American side proved to be enough to lead the gold medal count in the pool, even as Australia pushed Team USA to the limit.
At the tail end, and in the nick of time, it was the Americans who found their best
