4 x 100 metres Medley Relay, Women

This was the final women’s event of the Tokyo 2020 swimming calendar. The favorites were Australia and the United States who had been the dominant nations in women’s swimming at Tokyo. Canada and China were also expected to contend for medals, those most likely bronze.

Australian Kaylee McKeown had won gold in both backstroke events in Tokyo and started off for the Aussies, but shockingly did not leave the water in first place, as she was touched out by Canada’s Kylie Masse, with the United States’ Regan Smith close behind.

The Americans took over on the second leg, as 100 metre breaststroke champion Lydia Jacoby had the fastest leg and took the lead. Emma McKeon, the 100 butterfly champion, swam the third leg for the Aussies, but American Torri Huske held her off, although the fastest butterfly leg was swum by Canada’s Maggie Mac Neil (55.27), followed by China’s Zhang Yufei (55.39).

The freestyle anchor legs were swum by Australia’s Cate Campbell, the United States’ Abbey Weitzeil, and Canada’s Penny Oleksiak. Weitzeil still led at the turn but could not hold off Campbell, who brought Australia home for the gold medal. Canada was one full second behind Australia in third while China was well-back in fourth.

For Emma McKeon this gave her seven medals at the Tokyo Olympics, matching the female Olympic best for a single Olympics set in 1952 at Helsinki by Soviet gymnast Mariya Gorokhovskaya. Kaylee McKeown also went home with four medals, three golds and a bronze in the mixed medley relay.