University of Georgia Athletics
Smoliga Helps Relay Reach Saturday Finals
August 12, 2016 | Swimming & Diving
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Georgia’s Olivia Smoliga helped the United States earn the top position for the women's 4x100-meter medley relay on Friday at the Olympics.
Smoliga, a rising senior, and the Americans posted a time of 3:54.67 — more than two seconds ahead of Canada’s 3:56.80 and Denmark’s 3:56.98. The final will take place on Saturday night.
Smoliga led off the relay with a 100-meter backstroke time of 59.57. She went a lifetime-best 58.95 in finishing sixth in the individual Olympic competition earlier this week.
Incoming freshman Javier Acevedo led off Canada’s men’s 4x100-meter medley relay, which finished 16th in 3:56.80, with a time of 54.70.
Rising senior Chantal Van Landeghem came in 10th in the women's 50-meter freestyle. She went 24.61 in the semifinals after notching a time of 24.57 during prelims. Van Landeghem may factor into Canada’s 4x100-meter medley as the 100-meter freestyle anchor leg on Saturday.
Georgia swimmers have earned eight medals at the Games thus far: one gold and one silver for Allison Schmitt, one gold each for Melanie Margalis and Gunnar Bentz, one silver for Chase Kalisz, and one bronze each for Van Landeghem, Brittany MacLean and Amanda Weir.
Players Mentioned
