U.S. Relays Shine and Stumble at Paris 2024

The U.S. experienced both triumph and defeat in the swimming and track events at the Paris 2024 Olympics. In a significant upset, the U.S. men's 4x100m medley relay team, which had maintained a winning streak since 1960, finished second to China, breaking their six-decade dominance. Conversely, the U.S. mixed 4x100m medley relay team set a new world record, winning gold with a time of 3:37.43, narrowly beating China. The U.S. mixed 4x400m relay team set a new world record in the semifinals with a time of 3:07.41 but finished second in the finals behind the Netherlands. Mixed relay events, which include both male and female athletes, have shown the versatility and strength of the U.S. teams. Despite some setbacks, the U.S. remains a powerful contender in the overall medal count.