Team USA has been quite impressive in the pool at the 2012 London Olympics thus far. It continued on Wednesday too, as the women were able to pick up yet another gold medal in the 800 meter freestyle relay finale.
2012 Olympic Women’s 800m Freestyle Relay: USA Captures Gold
Anchored by Allison Schmitt, America’s young Olympians raced their way to an Olympic record -- and Team USA’s 18th swimming medal thus far this summer -- with a time of 7:42.92. Australia actually led by over half of a second prior to Schmitt’s entrance, but her astounding time of 1:54.09 was just too much for anyone else in the pool to keep up with.
“It was neck-and-neck the whole race,” Schmitt said after the race. “I just wanted to bring up the energy and bring home the gold tonight in the relay.”
While that quote talks about Schmitt bringing the energy, it’s been fun thus far to see how relaxed the young American swimmers have been thus far in the summer games.
The relay swimmers danced on deck to a Rihanna song before the session, then took that relaxed demeanor into the race. When the Americans fell behind, they didn't panic.
"I had confidence in them," Schmitt said, "and I just wanted to bring it home for them."
It was Schmitt’s second gold medal of the summer and fourth overall after also picking up a silver and a bronze in earlier events. Missy Franklin and Dana Vollmer also picked up their second medals of the summer, while Shannon Vreeland picked up her first.
For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation’s London 2012 Olympics Hub. For more on Olympic swimming, follow the 2012 Olympic swimming section.
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