Vladimir Morozov went into the water for the third leg on Russia’s 400 free relay in third place, but he blasted a 45.42 split, by far the fastest in the field, and Aleksandr Popkov held on to give the Russians the gold.
Nikita Lobintsev, Mikhail Vekovishchev, Morozov and Popkov combined to post a time of 3:05.90, winning by 1.45 seconds ahead of France.
Clement Mignon, Jeremy Stravius, Jordan Pothain and Mehdy Metella combined to post a time of 3:07.35 for silver, and the United States and Australia actually tied for bronze.
Australia’s Brayden McCarthy, Daniel Smith and David Morgan were in fourth at the 300-meter mark, but Tomasso D’Orsogna split 45.87 on the anchor leg to get in on equal terms with the Americans. Michael Chadwick, Tom Shields, Paul Powers and Blake Pieroni, who anchored in 46.02, swam for the Americans.
Japan ended up fifth in 3:09.75, just ahead of the Netherlands (3:09.87) and Canada (3:09.96). Belarus was eighth in 3:12.77.
