Behind a strong performance from its anchor and world champion Cate Campbell, Australia won gold in the 4x100-meter freestyle in world record fashion.
Olympic swimming results 2016: Australia wins gold in women’s 4x100m freestyle relay
Australia dominated behind strong performances from the Campbell sisters.
Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images
Its Australia’s second consecutive gold medal in the event after edging out a much tighter win over the Netherlands in London.
The American team finished a distant second for the silver medal behind a team of Simone Manuel, Abbey Weitzel, Dana Vollmer and Katie Ledecky. The Americans finished nearly three seconds better than they did in London.
It was unknown whether Ledecky would even compete in the relay after finishing seventh in the 100-meter freestyle at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June. But a sharp Saturday morning performance earned the long-distance phenom a spot in the event.
“No nerves at all,” Ledecky said in a post-race interview with NBC. “Having the first race be a relay makes it so much fun.”
Canada finished a full second behind the Americans for the bronze medal.
Final results:
Australia: 3:30.65
United States: 3:31.89
Canada: 3:32.89
Netherlands: 3:33.81
Sweden: 3:35.90
Italy 3:36.78
France: 3:37.45
Japan: 3:37.78
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