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Lochte's Third Crown Gives US Its 6th

Dec 13, 2012  - Craig Lord

Istanbul, World Short-Course Championships, Day 2 finals: 

Men's 4x200m freestyle

It takes four to win a relay but no question about it: the pride of Gators and the US, Ryan Lochte set up the third victory on the day for the US for a third gold of his own with a 1:41.17 lead-off split ahead of efforts of 1:41.93 and 1:42.49 for Paul Biedermann (GER) and Tomasso D'Orsogna (AUS). 

Conor Dwyer followed on with a 1:43.04 for the US, with Michael Klueh on 1:43.20 before Matthew McLean survived the pressure building around him for a 1:43.99 split that granted gold in 6:51.40. Australia took silver in 6:52.29, Germany taking the bronze in 6:53.22, Russia 3secs away and Brazil disqualified for a faulty takeover.

The US now leads the medals table with six crowns. Lochte has four medals of his own in the bag: gold in the 400m medley, the 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle and a bronze in the 100m butterfly. His latest relay medal was the fifth of his world s/c career, Michael Klim (AUS) the only other swimmer who can claim that count, while Istanbul marks the 4th global battle of the little pool at which Lochte has claimed at least three gold medals.

Good result for Australia, 5th in 2010, and Germany, 4th in 2010, too: now third and fourth fastest quartets ever in textile. Germany will announce the name of its new head coach here in Istanbul tomorrow. The man tipped for the post if Essen coach and acting head of the team in Turkey, Henning Lambertz.

The result: 

  • USA 6:51.40 - Lochte, 1:41.17; Dwyer 1:43.04; Klueh 1:43.20; McLean 1:43.99
  • AUS ­6:52.29 - D'Orsogna 1:42.49; Jarrod Killey 1:42.82; Kyle Richardson 1:44.59; Robert Hurley 1:42.39
  • GER ­6:53.22 - Biedermann 1:41.93; Dimitri Colupaev 1:42.96; Christoph Fildebrandt 1:45.40; Yannick Lebherz 1:42.93

Dubai 2010:

  • Russia 
  • Nikita Lobintsev (1:42.10); Danila Izotov (1:42.15); Evgeny Lagunov (1:42.32); Alexander Sukhorukov (1:42.47) - 6:49.04 WR
  • USA
  • Peter Vanderkaay (1:43.83); Ryan Lochte (1:40.48) Garrett Weber-Gale (1:42.89) Ricky Berens (1:42.38) - 6:49.58 AR
  • France
  • Yannick Agnel (1:41.95); Fabien Gilot (1:42.55); Clement Lefert (1:45.01); Jeremy Stravius (1:43.54) - 6:53.05 

History in the making:

World s/c Podiums

  • 2012: 6:51.40; 6:52.29; 6:53.22
  • 2010: 6:49.04; 6:49.58; 6:53.05
  • 2008: 6:55.65; 6:56.62; 6:58.39
  • 2006: 6:59.08; 7:04.16; 7:04.34

Most world titles in this event: 4 - Australia  

World Record

6:49.04 Russia 16.12.10

All-time textile rankings top 5:

  • 6:49.04 RUS 
  • 6:49.58 USA
  • 6:52.29 AUS
  • 6:53.22 GER 
  • 6:53.05 FRA