University of Georgia Athletics
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Litherland, Smoliga, Margalis Earn Final-Day Medals
July 28, 2019 | Swimming & Diving
GWANJU, Republic of Korea --- Jay Litherland earned an individual silver medal and Olivia Smoliga and Melanie Margalis picked up golds as prelims members of a relay on Sunday as the swimming portion of the FINA World Championships in the Nambu International Aquatics Center came to an end.
Litherland, who ended his Georgia career in 2018, placed second in the men's 400-meter individual medley with a time of 4:09.22. The gold went to Japan's Daiya Seto in 4:08.95 and the bronze went to New Zealand's Lewis Clareburt in 4:12.07. Litherland entered the finals seeded third after reaching the wall in 4:13.78 during prelims.
Litherland's medal is the first individual one in his international career. He earned a bronze on the 4x200-meter freestyle relay in the 2017 World Championships. Litherland came in fifth in the 400-meter individual medley in the 2016 Olympics and the 2017 World Championships.
Smoliga swam the backstroke and Margalis handled the breaststroke during prelims in the women's 4x100-meter medley relay. Smoliga led off in 58.79 and Margalis followed in 1:06.40 -- the two fastest times in the field -- as the United States posted the top effort of 3:55.39. In the finals, with Smoliga and Margalis cheering from the team section, the Americans set the world record in 3:50.40. Australia was second in 3:53.42 and Canada placed third in 3:53.58. Smoliga and Margalis capped their Georgia careers in 2017 and 2014, respectively.
The final medals count for the six UGA alums in the World Championships was:
Olivia Smoliga
Gold, 50-meter backstroke (American record)
Gold, 4x100-meter medley relay
Bronze, 100-meter backstroke
Melanie Margalis
Gold, 4x100-meter medley relay
Silver, 4x200-meter freestyle relay
Allison Schmitt (team captain)
Silver, 4x100-meter freestyle relay
Silver, 4x200-meter freestyle relay
Jay Litherland
Silver, 400-meter individual medley
Hali Flickinger
Silver, 200-meter butterfly
Chase Kalisz
Bronze, 200-meter individual medley
In addition, Jack Bauerle, Georgia's Tom Cousins Swimming and Diving Head Coach, served as a United States assistant during the World Championships.
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Litherland, who ended his Georgia career in 2018, placed second in the men's 400-meter individual medley with a time of 4:09.22. The gold went to Japan's Daiya Seto in 4:08.95 and the bronze went to New Zealand's Lewis Clareburt in 4:12.07. Litherland entered the finals seeded third after reaching the wall in 4:13.78 during prelims.
Litherland's medal is the first individual one in his international career. He earned a bronze on the 4x200-meter freestyle relay in the 2017 World Championships. Litherland came in fifth in the 400-meter individual medley in the 2016 Olympics and the 2017 World Championships.
Smoliga swam the backstroke and Margalis handled the breaststroke during prelims in the women's 4x100-meter medley relay. Smoliga led off in 58.79 and Margalis followed in 1:06.40 -- the two fastest times in the field -- as the United States posted the top effort of 3:55.39. In the finals, with Smoliga and Margalis cheering from the team section, the Americans set the world record in 3:50.40. Australia was second in 3:53.42 and Canada placed third in 3:53.58. Smoliga and Margalis capped their Georgia careers in 2017 and 2014, respectively.
The final medals count for the six UGA alums in the World Championships was:
Olivia Smoliga
Gold, 50-meter backstroke (American record)
Gold, 4x100-meter medley relay
Bronze, 100-meter backstroke
Melanie Margalis
Gold, 4x100-meter medley relay
Silver, 4x200-meter freestyle relay
Allison Schmitt (team captain)
Silver, 4x100-meter freestyle relay
Silver, 4x200-meter freestyle relay
Jay Litherland
Silver, 400-meter individual medley
Hali Flickinger
Silver, 200-meter butterfly
Chase Kalisz
Bronze, 200-meter individual medley
In addition, Jack Bauerle, Georgia's Tom Cousins Swimming and Diving Head Coach, served as a United States assistant during the World Championships.
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Players Mentioned
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