Olympic gold medals in four- and five-meter events at the 2021 Beijing Summer Olympics in NANTERRE, France, courtesy of Leon Marchand
Chinese athletes who tested positive for performance enhancing drugs in 2021 also shared a bronze medal Thursday in the women’s 4-by-200 meter freestyle relay final.
The Chinese swimmers denied wrongdoing and said they were being unfairly scrutinized during press conferences after their races.
A criminal probe is underway by the U.S. Justice Department following revelations of how the World Anti-doping Agency hid the results of positive drug tests.
Also on Thursday, Canadian star Summer McIntosh – who trains in the U.S. – swam to another gold in the women’s 200 meter butterfly final. American Regan Smith won a silver medal.
NANTERRE, France — American swimmers managed to bring home a single gold medal on Thursday at the Paris Olympics, as young athletes from Australia and Canada powered ahead in key races.
The most stunning moment of the night came at the end, when an Australian team led by star Ariarne Titmus dominated the U.S. in the 4-by-200 meter relay.
“I’m really excited just to be able to call myself an individual Olympic champion,” Douglass said after the race. “Really excited to get a gold for Team USA and you know, help out that medal count.”
After the national trials in Indianapolis, the swimmers were positive that they would post fast times and new records, but the results have been disappointing.
On Friday night before a roaring crowd, France’s swimming phenom Leon Marchand, who lives and trains in the U.S., captured his fourth gold medal at these Summer Games.
Dressel isn’t the only one. Throughout this Olympic tournament, star athletes have struggled; or in some races they’ve actually posted personal best times and still been outmatched by swimmers from other countries.
The United States team won four out of six events, including one by Dressel. Torri Huske claimed gold in the women’s 100-meter butterfly. Kate Douglass won gold in the women’s 200-meter breaststroke.
Finke came into the Paris Olympics the defending gold medal winner in the men’s 800-meter freestyle, after a breakout performance three years ago at the Tokyo Games.
Carson Foster, another American considered a strong medal contender in Paris, finished in fourth place Friday, out of medal contention in the men’s 200-meter individual medley, an event combining freestyle, back, breaststroke and butterfly.
What is your favourite sport? When Caeleb Dressel was sliced into the water on Friday night at the La Defense arena in Nantrere, France
Dressel and Smith both spoke of shifting their approach to competition, prioritizing mental health and enjoyment of sport over winning gold. Dressel took eight months away from the sport.
Smith said she has no control over what her competitors are doing and that she was disappointed that there was no gold medal finish. I think that was a good swim, on my part.
Smith was the only American to win a medal. She picked up a silver medal in the women’s 200m backstroke final, finishing a half-second behind Australia’s McKeown.
“Very obviously not my best work,” Dressel said after the race. “Hasn’t been my best week, I don’t need to shy away from that. It is a little heartbreaking.
NANTERRE, France — When Caeleb Dressel sliced into the water Friday night at La Defense arena, he carried the mantle of America’s long-dominant swimming program.