Caeleb Dressel\u00a0<\/strong>catapulted the Americans to the gold medal in the mixed 4×50 medley relay. Splitting a 20.09 on the freestyle anchor the team touched first in 1:36.40, setting a new World Record in the process.\u00a0Olivia Smoliga<\/strong>,\u00a0Michael Andrew<\/strong>, and\u00a0Kelsi Dahlia\u00a0<\/strong>swam the first three legs.<\/p>\n The American team from Duel in the Pool in Glasglow in 2013 held the previous World Record at 1:37.17.<\/p>\n Smoliga\u00a0(on representing Team USA on a relay): \u201cReally special. You can\u2019t really put it into words. I think you kind of feed off the energy of your teammates and do as well as you can to make them proud. I hope to do the best job possible. It\u2019s a team effort and everyone swam so well.<\/span><\/p>\n Dressel (on his busy session with three swims): \u201cI feel fine. The 100 fly certainly could have been better, but you just move on. I think Kelsi said it best. I feel like we could have an A, B and C relay in contention for the podium, so it is special, and you really have to prove you spot here. The coaching staff chose the best four they thought would do well tonight and we all did our part.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The Netherlands’\u00a0Jesse Puts<\/strong>,\u00a0Ties Elzerman, Ranomi Kromowidjojo<\/strong>, and\u00a0Femke Heemskerek\u00a0<\/strong>finished second.<\/p>\n Russia led after the backstroke as the team of\u00a0Kliment Kolesnikov<\/strong>,\u00a0Oleg Kostin<\/strong>,\u00a0Rozaliya Nasretdinova<\/strong>, and\u00a0Mariia Kameneva\u00a0<\/strong>ultimately finished third in 1:37.33.<\/p>\n Japan (1:37.67) and Italy (1:38.08) were fourth and fifth. Germany (1:38.35), Australia (1:38.69), and Finland (1:39.38) completed the finals heat.<\/p>\n\n