The United States completed its dominant swimming performance at the Paris Olympics with a pair of gold medals and world records.
The American women’s 4x100-meter medley relay team — composed of Regan Smith (backstroke), Lilly King (breaststroke), Gretchen Walsh (butterfly), and Torri Huske (freestyle) — cruised to a 3:49.63 finish, beating the previous world record by a full second.
TEAM USA CLOSES IT OUT WITH A GOLD. 🥇👏
In the final swim of the #ParisOlympics, the United States DOMINATES the women's 4x100m medley relay! pic.twitter.com/ISAvsNwyef— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 4, 2024
The Americans were heavy betting favorites to win the 4x100 medley relay, with oddsmakers setting their gold medal odds at -2500, well ahead of both Australia (+560) and China (+1200).
Meanwhile, Bobby Finke pulled off a stunning upset to set a new world record in the 1500-meter freestyle, finishing the final individual swimming event of the Paris Games in 14:30.67.
Bobby does the unFINKEable! 🙌
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 4, 2024
Gold medal and WORLD RECORD in the 1500m freestyle!#ParisOlympics | 📺 NBC and Peacock pic.twitter.com/siCsTPEN8X
Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen — who captured gold in the 800-meter freestyle — entered the race as one oddsmaker’s favorite at -164, but finished third behind both Finke and Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri (+800). Finke was listed at +350.
The victories handed the United States their seventh and eighth gold medals in swimming, nudging the Americans ahead of Australia (seven) for most gold medals in the pool. The United States collected the most total swimming medals, as well, notching 28.
