University of Georgia Athletics
Four Bulldogs Earn Medals To Open Rio Games
August 06, 2016 | Swimming & Diving
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil --- Georgia’s Chase Kalisz, who redshirted the 2015-16 season to train for the Olympics, claimed the silver medal in the 400-meter individual medley in the Rio Games on Saturday.
As prelims relay swimmers, Allison Schmitt and Amanda Weir earned silver medals as the United States 4x100-meter freestyle relay came in second. Rising senior Chantal Van Landeghem picked up a bronze medal as Canada touched third.
Kalisz, who will be a senior during 2016-17, posted a personal-best time of 4:06.75 to place second to Japan’s Kosuke Hagino (4:06.05). The bronze medal went to Japan’s Daiya Seto, who stopped the clock in 4:09.71.
“I’m happy with my results,” Kalisz said. “That was all I could do, all I could hope for. I gave all I have. I don’t think I could’ve gone any faster. I’m fine with silver knowing that I gave my best effort.”
Georgia’s Jay Litherland, a rising junior, placed fifth with a time of 4:11.68.
With Weir leading off and Schmitt swimming third, the Americans qualified second in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay prelims with a time of 3:33.59. In the final, Australia set the world and Olympics records with a time of 3:30.65 and the United States was second in an American record time of 3:31.89.
Van Landeghem, who joined Kalisz in a redshirt year last season, swam the second leg of the relay as Canada placed third in 3:32.89.
Also on Saturday, representing Finland, Matias Koski came in 42nd in the 400-meter freestyle in 3:55.57.
Players Mentioned
