TOKYO — If there were one event capable of telling the decades-long story of American swimming dominance at the Olympics, it would, undoubtedly, be the men’s 4×100-meter medley relay, a race that, entering Sunday, the United States had never lost.
It’s a streak that transcended eras and individuals, rose above international challenge after international challenge, and persisted for 61 years, interrupted only by boycott.
And in Tokyo, it received its fiercest challenge yet, from Great Britain, which topped the U.S. in the event at 2019 worlds.
Nevertheless, on Sunday, it persisted — thanks to a world record.
Zach Apple anchored a U.S. team of Caeleb Dressel, Ryan Murphy and Michael Andrew to gold in swimming’s Tokyo finale, holding off Team GB with a new best-ever time of 3:26.78.
The U.S., swimming the Olympic race without Michael Phelps for the first time since 2000, qualified seventh from heats, and therefore swam out of Lane 1. They knew they’d be challenged by Team GB and others.
Murphy gave the U.S. a lead on the backstroke leg. Andrew held it over the first 50 of his breaststroke leg, but then lost it to British GOAT Adam Peaty. Andrew touched the midway wall in third.
Dressel then swam the U.S. back into first place with just 100 meters to go. Apple got out fast, and closed out the world record.
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