Relay Women’s World Cup ends with record for Netherlands, gold for USA

The Dutch women set a record in the final of the 4x100m medley relay race. Kira Toussaint, Des Schouten, Mike de Waart and Marit Steenbergen finished fifth after clocking 3.57.24 at the World Championships Long Track Swimming in Budapest.

All four swam the second-fastest times in the series, but the toppers in many countries were not yet in the morning. In the final they fell 0.04 below the old record of 3.57.28 set at the London Olympics on 4 August 2012, swum by Sharon van Roowendal, Monique Nijhuis, Inge Dekker and Ranomi Kromowidjojo.

Watch the reactions of Toussaint, Schouten, De Waard and Steenbergen after the final below.

In Budapest, gold went to American women Regan Smith, Lily King, Tori Huske and Claire Curzon in 3.53.78. Australia and Canada were second and third respectively.

Also, two women who were already on the highest step of the World Cup podium at a young age won gold. Ruta Meilutyte surprisingly won the 50m breaststroke title. 29.70, 0.10 faster than 25-year-old Lithuanian Benedetta Pilate.

Ten years ago, at the age of 15, Meilutyte already won Olympic gold in the 100-meter breaststroke, and in 2013 became the world champion at that distance.

He won several medals at the World Cups and European Championships, but was banned for two years in July 2019 for doping violations. Meilutyte returned in December and already this week won a bronze medal in the 100m breaststroke. In 50 school finals, he led from start to finish.

Sarah Sjöström won her tenth world title in the 50m freestyle at the World Championships long track. The Swede, who already won gold in the 50m butterfly earlier this week, clocked a blistering 23.98 in the final, 0.20 faster than Poland’s Katarzyna Wicz.

Sjöström, now 28, won her first European Championship gold at the age of fourteen, and Counter now has one Olympic title, sixteen world titles and 26 European titles. He won a total of 84 medals at the Games, World Championships and European Championships.

Hunter Armstrong’s gold in the 50m backstroke seemed lucky. The American finished second, but his compatriot Justin Ress was disqualified a few minutes later. However, that disqualification was later reversed following protests from the United States.

With this, the 24-year-old Rees won his first individual world title. He was 0.02 faster than Armstrong, but was submerged for too long at the end, so the result was canceled early.

Gold went to world record holder Armstrong, who had already won two relay titles and a bronze in the 100m backstroke at this World Cup. In the end Armstrong had to settle for a silver medal.