In the closing event of the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on August 3, Team USA sealed its place atop the medal table by setting a new world record of 3:49.34 in the women’s 4×100‑metre medley relay. The quartet of Regan Smith (backstroke), Kate Douglass (breaststroke), Gretchen Walsh (butterfly), and Torri Huske (freestyle anchor) shattered the previous mark of 3:49.63, a record set just one year prior at the Paris Olympics.
Meet Recap: A Strong Finish to a Challenging Campaign
Team USA had endured a rocky start in Singapore. A wave of acute gastroenteritis, reportedly contracted during training in Thailand, left key athletes underperforming and caused internal criticism even from Olympic veterans like Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte. By the sixth day, the Americans had amassed only five gold medals. But a strong rally on the final two days — led by swimmers such as Katie Ledecky and Summer McIntosh — reversed momentum, culminating in a dominant relay closing that not only secured the last gold of the meet but also delivered the world‑beating time for the record books.
Race Dynamics: Splits That Left No Doubt
- Regan Smith got Team USA off the blocks with a backstroke turn in 57.57, edging Kaylee McKeown by 0.12 seconds and handing over a slim lead to start.
- Kate Douglass immediately widened the gap with a standout breaststroke leg of 1:04.27, over a second faster than any other competitor.
- Gretchen Walsh then delivered an explosive butterfly split of 54.98, one of the fastest ever recorded in a relay, sealing the victory by a margin of 3.33 seconds over Australia’s 3:52.67 finish.
- Torri Huske, despite illness earlier in the week, anchored with poise, finishing in 52 seconds-ish, and ensured the record was safe in hand. Medley
After years of dominance in medley relays, this performance capped their legacy with another chapter — the first sub‑3:50 win in history happened in Paris, but they improved upon it yet again in Singapore.
What It Means for Team USA and the Sport
With this win, the U.S. concluded the championships with nine golds and 29 total medals, narrowly surpassing Australia, who earned eight golds and 20 medals. Beyond titles, the record signifies a crucial rebirth: overcoming illness, quietening critics, and showing depth in depth-testing relay events. As Regan Smith said: “This is the beginning of a very long quad… a very successful quad.”
Australia, led by Kaylee McKeown and O’Callaghan, challenged admirably but lacked the final surge, while China’s relay anchored the podium with a bronze in 3:54.77. Canada, Germany, and “Neutral Athletes” also posted strong finishes but trailed well behind. Notably, Lilly King, who led breaststroke in prelims for this relay and announced her retirement earlier in the year, earned one final gold medal as part of the team.
Road to Paris 2028 and Beyond
The performance sends a stark signal to the world of elite swimming: Team USA remains the gold standard in medley relay strategy and execution—even amid adversity. The lineup’s blend of established Medley champions (Smith, Huske) and rising stars (Douglass, Walsh) reflect a transition to the Los Angeles 2028 quad, with expectations at an all-time high. The record not only closed out the chapter on Singapore but laid a record for what’s possible before the next Olympic Games. The question now is: how much faster can they swim next? Medley
