Team USA’s first gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics was “just the beginning” for the country at the Paris Games, Jack Alexy has said after forming part of the triumphant men’s 4×100 freestyle relay.
Alexy and team-mates Chris Guiliano, Hunter Armstrong and Caeleb Dressel finished 1.07 seconds ahead of Australia to give the USA its first title, with Italy taking bronze.
“An experience I’ll never forget,” former junior relay world champion Alexy told his thousands of Instagram followers. “Grateful to be a part of this team. Just the beginning for Team USA and USA Swimming.”
𝗚𝗢𝗟𝗗𝗘𝗡.
For the third-straight Olympics, the U.S. stands atop the podium in the 4×100 Free Relay 🫡@TeamUSA | #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/0jwbfH0g7p
— USA Swimming (@USASwimming) July 27, 2024
📰 Table Of Contents
Team USA medals: Swimming gold
Alongside 6ft 8in Alexy, Dressel won his eighth Olympic gold medal, including five at the last edition of the Games in Tokyo in 2021, by contributing to Team USA’s time of 3:09.28.
New Jersey native Alexy took the first leg of a race that was completed in style by 15-time world champion and multiple world-record holder Dressel.
“I’m just truly honored to be part of this relay,” Alexy said at the awards ceremony. “Watching Caeleb finish that off for us and making Team USA proud, it’s great starting off with a gold.
“It’s an honour [to lead off]. “I was really excited when Coach [Anthony] Nesty announced the order for the relay. It’s awesome to start things off.”
The ultimate hype squad 🤝@TeamUSA | #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/Up6o4ojo4C
— USA Swimming (@USASwimming) July 27, 2024
Dressel ‘got the job done’ in Paris
Team USA were slightly behind leaders China after Alexy swam 100m in 47.67 seconds, but Guiliano moved them slightly in front after the second leg.
Armstrong, who joins Alexy in being affiliated with the California collegiate programme, swam fastest from his team with a third leg of 46.75 to establish a commanding lead.
“It wasn’t a perfect swim for me,” acknowledged 21-year-old Alexy, who is next in action in the 100m freestyle on Tuesday.
Spotting your mom in the crowd after winning Olympic gold just hits different 🫶@TeamUSA | #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/gVxnh37uyO
— USA Swimming (@USASwimming) July 27, 2024
“But we got the job done and it was really fun watching the rest of my team-mates execute their races. That was really exciting and pretty surreal. I was pretty hyped in the moment.”
Team USA were fourth in the medal standings by Sunday afternoon, adding two silvers and two bronzes. Australia topped the table, immediately ahead of China and South Korea.
