The first gold medal awarded to the United States at the 2024 Paris Olympics was clinched by the men’s 4×100-meter freestyle relay team in an exhilarating contest.
As Caeleb Dressel, the anchor swimmer of the quartet, touched the wall, the United States recorded a final time of 3:09.28, outpacing their Australian opponents by over a second.
Australia secured the silver medal with a time of 3:10.05, while Italy narrowly defeated China to take home the bronze with a time of 3:10.70.
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Caeleb Dressel of the U.S. competes in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay heats on day one of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Paris La Defense Arena July 27, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
For Dressel, this marks his eighth Olympic gold medal, a feat made possible by the contributions of Chris Guiliano, Jack Alexy, and Hunter Armstrong, who collectively had only one Olympic medal prior to this event.
Alexy, a promising talent at just 21, swam the first leg of the relay and set a fast pace for the U.S. team.
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Gold medalists Caeleb Dressel, Hunter Armstrong, Chris Guiliano, and Jack Alexy of the United States celebrate following the final of the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay at the Paris La Defense Arena in Nanterre, Paris, July 27, 2024. (Sebastien Bozoni/AFP via Getty Images)
Guiliano, also 21, followed closely to extend the team’s lead before Armstrong increased the gap ahead of the competition.
When Armstrong reached the wall, Dressel dove into the water to securely push the team ahead. Australia, Italy, and China made attempts to close the distance, but there was no catching Dressel.
Gold medalists Caeleb Dressel, Hunter Armstrong, Chris Guiliano, and Jack Alexy of the U.S. celebrate after winning the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay event at the Paris La Defense Arena in Nanterre, Paris, July 27, 2024. (Sebastien Bozoni/AFP via Getty Images)
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This victory serves as a crucial benchmark for the upcoming men’s swimming competitions, with Australia and China emerging as key competitors striving for supremacy in the swimming arena.
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