Paris 2024: China power to gold in 4x100m medley relay as Leon Marchand and France settle for bronze
Updated 04/08/2024 at 22:10 GMT+1
China powered to an impressive victory in a dramatic men's 4x100m medley relay final at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, as Leon Marchand and his French team-mates had to settle for bronze, with the USA collecting silver. Adam Peaty returned but couldn't guide Team GB to a podium spot as they finished fourth, just missing out on a medal with an impressive performance.
'Incredible race' - China edge out USA and France for 4x100m medley relay gold
Video credit: TNT Sports
Leon Marchand missed out on a fifth gold medal at Paris 2024 as Pan Zhanle powered China to victory in a dramatic men's 4x100m medley relay final.
Zhanle anchored China home in 3:27.46 after an incredible final leg at the La Defense Arena as he overtook the USA and France, who pick up a silver and bronze medal respectively.
The USA had taken an early lead but ultimately just fell short at the end as they suffered a first-ever loss in the men’s 4x100m relay event.
Adam Peaty returned having missed the mixed 4x100m medley relay heats on Friday.
He was as influential as ever, helping Team GB into second having started his second leg in fourth.
Ultimately the British quartet of Peaty, Oliver Morgan, Joe Richard Litchfield and Matthew Richards had to settle for fourth, an impressive showing given the quality on show.
"It has been a tough week," Peaty told Eurosport after he tested positive for Covid-19 a day after he won silver in the 100m breaststroke.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2024/08/04/4018900-81515653-2560-1440.jpg)
'I tried my absolute best' - Peaty and Team GB team-mates react to medley final
Video credit: TNT Sports
"But I think it's all in perspective that over the last decade or so, other than the last few years, that I've had a team around me that always delivers. We've been so dominant.
"And it just this week, the only week that I needed to be healthy, it went the other way. But I don't want that to be my story. I want my story to be that I tried my absolute best for this."
He added: "I'm so thankful that I got one performance this Games where I was really happy with my time."
Marchand had led France to the front after the third leg with China in second, but Zhanle ultimately proved too strong for his rivals, setting the fastest freestyle anchor split in history.
Zhanle will celebrate the triump with team-mates Xu Jiayu, Qin Haiyang and Sun Jiajun.
- Katie Ledecky holds off Ariarne Titmus to win fourth straight 800m freestyle gold
- Summer McIntosh wins 200m medley for third gold of Paris 2024 Olympic Games as USA's Alex Walsh disqualified
USA set world records to finish on a high
The USA’s Bobby Finke set a world record to claim the gold medal in the men’s 1500m freestyle in emphatic fashion.
The American set off at a blistering pace and did not let up to touch the wall in 14:30.67, eclipsing the record set at London 2012.
Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri fought valiantly to grab the silver medal in 7:45.72 while Ireland's Daniel Wiffen - already a gold medallist in the 800m event - had to settle for bronze with a time of 7:47.24.
In the final swimming event of the Games, Team USA broke their own world record to take gold in the women's 4x100m medley relay final.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2024/08/04/4019058-81518808-2560-1440.jpg)
'Amazing finish' - USA win women's 4x100m medley relay in style with a new world record
Video credit: TNT Sports
The quarter of Regan Smith, Lilly King, Gretchen Walsh and Torri Huske dominated to win in 3:49.63, ahead of Australia (3:53.11) and China (3:53.23), as Summer McIntosh missed out on a fifth medal in Paris with Canada finishing fourth.
--
discovery+ is the streaming home of the Olympic Games, and the only place you can watch every moment of Paris 2024 this summer.
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement