July 31, 2021
#5 – W 50 Free: Emma McKeon has been on a roll at these Olympic Games, and she continued that in the 50 free semi-finals, setting a new Olympic record at 24.00
#4 – W 200 Back: Kaylee McKeown successfully completes the backstroke sweep, getting her hand on the wall first at 2:04.68 to win gold in both the 100 and 200 backstrokes
#3 – W 800 Free: Katie Ledecky won her 3rd-straight Olympic title in the 800 free, touching at 8:12.57 tonight to notch her 7th career Olympic gold and 10th overall medal
#2 – Mixed Medley Relay: In it's first Olympic iteration, the mixed medley relay did not disappoint (unless you're USA, but we'll get to that), showing multiple lead changes while Great Britain swam an incredible 4 legs, breaking the world record in 3:37.58
#1 – M 100 Fly: This ended up being a lot tighter of a race than most would have expected, with Dressel going out fast and Milak coming home like a freight train, nearly catching the world record-holder and touching 2nd at 49.62. Dressel was able to hold off Milak and dip under his own world record, touching for gold at 49.45
BELLY FLOP OF THE DAY: Team USA Coaching on Mixed Medley Relay
We've all been trying to do the math on the mixed medley relay, especially since the USA had so many different options... but we don't see how the lineup we put forward could have added up to gold paper. The differential between the breaststroke/freestyle legs just wasn't there, and having a female butterflier swimming from behind with all those waves doesn't set them up for success. A tough race to watch for Team USA
HOT TOPIC OF THE DAY: 400 Medley Relay - Can USA Hold on?
We know that Team USA is on form and looks primed for both medley relays. But so do the other countries that will challenge for gold. In the women's relay, if Lydia Jacoby can put the US in a lead over Australia and try to maintain through fly so Abbey Weitzeil has a chance to hold off Cate Campbell, I think our chances are good.
In the men's race, Ryan Murphy obviously has to get a strong lead so Michael Andrew can try and hold off Adam Peaty. I think Dressel can get slightly ahead of an on-fire James Guy, which leaves Zach Apple to hold off Duncan Scott. I think Zapple is up to the task, but we've seen Duncan Scott go crazy on the relay anchor before, and he will be hungry for gold.
