US can't catch Australia, but edges China to win silver in women's 4x100-meter freestyle relay

The United States women’s 4x100-meter freestyle relay team captured silver in the final at Paris La Defense Arena Saturday night. 

The U.S. was unable to take down rival Australia, which finished with gold in 3:28.92 compared to the U.S. team's finish of 3:30.20. 

However, the U.S. defeated another rival in China, edging them by one-tenth of a second (3:30.30). 

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It was Simone Manuel, the anchor leg for Team USA, who stretched her arm out to touch the wall before China could in a thrilling finish. 

Kate Douglass, Gretchen Walsh and Torri Huske, who all swam their legs, were cheering Manuel the entire way as she covered ground to beat China and secure silver. 

US SECURES FIRST OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL IN MEN'S 4X100-METER FREESTYLE RELAY

For Australia, though, this marks the fourth straight Olympics the gold medal heads down under after Emma McKeon, Mollie O’Callaghan, Meg Harris and Shayna Jack were perfect in their swims. 

McKeon, the 30-year-old Aussie star, walks away with the sixth Olympic gold medal and 12th medal overall during her illustrious career. 

McKeon’s medal count ties Americans Jenny Thompson, Dara Torres and Natalie Coughlin for the most career Olympic medals by a women’s swimmer. 

U.S. star Katie Ledecky finished the 400-meter freestyle earlier Saturday in third place to earn her first bronze and 11th career Olympic medal. 

On the American side, Manuel was the only swimmer on this relay team who competed in a previous Olympics. She competed in the 2020 Olympics in the same event. 

Manuel also collected gold in 2016 at the Rio Games, coming out victorious in the 100-meter freestyle and 4x100-meter medley relay. 

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