Amanda Weir had the Americans in fourth place after the first 100 meters, but Kelsi Worrell quickly established a big lead, splitting an insane 51.04 on the second leg, and Madison Kennedy and Mallory Comerford held on to pick up the gold medal.
That quartet posted a time of 3:28.82 to win the gold medal as Comerford split 51.99 to hold off Canada’s Penny Oleksiak. But the Canadian team ended up getting disqualified, leaving Italy with silver and the Netherlands bronze.
The Canadian squad was slated to swim with a team of Sandrine Mainville, Alexia Zevnik, Oleksiak and Michelle Williams, but Williams ended up swimming the third leg and Oleksiak anchoring. That procedural issue resulted in the DQ.
Italy’s squad of Erika Ferraioli, Silvia Di Pietro, Aglaia Pezzato and Federica Pellegrini posted a time of 3:30.28, and the Maud Van Der Meer, Marrit Steenbergen, Maaike De Waard and Ranomi Kromowidjojo clocked 3:31.10.
Australia finished just off the podium in fourth, posting a 3:31.31 as Pellegrini overtook Emily Seebohm (52.00) on the anchor leg. Japan (3:34.09), France (3:35.13) and China (3:36.01) all competed in the final.
