Women's 4x200m freestyle

The USA women were locked out in 4th in 2010. Today, just as the American men did in the 4x100m relay, Megan Romano (1:56.03), Chelsea Chenault (1:54.78), Shannon Vreeland (1:55.43) and Olympic 200m champion Allison Schmitt (1:53.01) delivered a third gold medal on the day for the USA in 7:39.25. The silver went to Russian's Veronika Popova, Elene Sokolova, Daria Belyakina and Ksenia Yuskova in 7:42.77, the bronze China's in 7:43.26 courtesy of Qiu Yuhan, Pang Jiaying, Guo Junjun and Tang Yi.

Hungary finished fourth in 7:44.70, Katinka Hosszu (200 'fly gold, 400IM bronze, $150,000 plus in the bank) smiling her way through the mixed zone as she said "I can hardly walk!" Britain finished fifth, 400IM winner hannah Miley producing a fabulous 1:54.74 split. 

Istanbul 2012

• 1. USA 7:39.25 - Megan Romano (1:56.03), Chelsea Chenault (1:54.78), Shannon Vreeland (1:55.43) and Allison Schmitt (1:53.01)
• 2. RUS 7:42.77 - Veronika Popova (1:55.36), Elene Sokolova (1:55.61), Daria Belyakina (1:55.73) and Ksenia Yuskova (1:56.07)
• 3. CHN 7:43.26 - Qiu Yuhan (1:57.30), Pang Jiaying (1:56.72), Guo Junjun (1:55.91) and Tang Yi (1:53.33)

Dubai 2010:

• China - 7:35.94 WR Chen Qian 1:54.73; Tang Yi (1:53.54);  3:48.27; Lie Jing (1:53.59) 5:41.86; Zhu Qianwei (1:54.08) 7:35.94
• Australia - 7:37.57 Commonwealth record Blair Evans 1:54.87; Jade Neilsen (1:54.87) 3:49.74; Kelly Stubbins (1:55.41) 5:45.15; Kylie Palmer (1:52.42) 7:37.57
• France - 7:38.33 European record Camille Muffat 1:53.17; Coralie Balmy (1:53.71) 3:46.88; Mylène Lazare (1:56.24) 5:43.12; Ophélie Cyrielle Etienne (1:55.21) 7:38.33

Day 1 results in full at Omega Live Timing

Flash quotes from the championships

and some pictures @swimnewscom

History in the making:

World s/c Podiums

• 2012: 7:39.25; 7:42.77; 7:43.26
• 2010: 7:35.94; 7:37.57; 7:38.33
• 2008: 7:38.90; 7:38.96; 7:39.01
• 2006: 7:46.96; 7:47.07; 7:49.16

Most world titles in this event:  4 - China, 1993, 1997, 2002, 2010

World Record

7:35.94 China - Dubai 15.12.10 Chen Qian 1:54.73; Tang Yi (1:53.54);  3:48.27; Lie Jing (1:53.59) 5:41.86; Zhu Qianwei (1:54.08) 7:35.94

All-time textile rankings top 5:

• 7:35.94 China 
• 7:37.57 Australia
• 7:38.33 France
• 7:38.42 USA
• 7:41.91 Sweden

From the archive: 

Of the first two Chinese quartets that won three world crowns in world-record time, three members were subsequently suspended for doping offenses. The China crisis of the 1990s took off at the inaugural 1993 world s/c titles in Palma de Majorca after rumours of a doping problem were rife from the time China appeared on the swim podium for the first time at an Olympic Games in 1988 to more golden success among women in 1992. By 1998, 44 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for doping, the cries of protest so loud that FINA responded with some of the toughest anti-doping measures in world sport, some of those subsequently watered down by WADA.