University of Georgia swimming alums Allison Schmitt and Hali Flickinger each picked up their second medals of the 2020 Summer Olympic Games Wednesday evening at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.
Schmitt swam the leadoff leg of Team USA’s silver-medal-winning performance in the women’s 800-meter freestyle relay, opening the race with a split of 1:56.34 in her fourth career final appearance in the event. The Americans’ time set a new American record and joined gold medalist China and bronze medalist Australia in breaking the previous world record mark. With the silver, Schmitt has now won 10 career medals (four gold, three silver, three bronze), the most of any University of Georgia athlete and the fourth-most by an American female swimmer.
Flickinger won her second bronze medal of the Games with a personal-best time of 2:05.65 in the women’s 200-meter butterfly final, joining the medal she earned Saturday in the 400-meter individual medley. Flickinger remained in second place for most of the race before a late surge from American teammate Regan Smith gave her the silver medal.
With Schmitt and Flickinger’s medals, Georgia alums have won seven in Tokyo, tying the previous record mark set in Rio. Additionally, the Georgia program has now won 38 overall medals, all under the tutelage of Tom Cousins Head Coach Jack Bauerle.
In the men’s 200-meter breaststroke final, alum Nic Fink placed fifth with a time of 2:07.93, concluding a terrific Olympic debut for the Bulldog. Later in the session, fellow alum Chase Kalisz was unable to reach a second final, finishing 12th in the men’s 200-meter individual medley with a time of 1:58.03. In prelims, Kalisz placed fourth with a time of 1:57.38.
Elsewhere in the morning session, incoming freshman Duné Coetzee helped South Africa set a new African record time of 8:01.56 in the 800m free relay, finishing 11th in prelims.
The Olympic swimming competition continues Thursday with the mixed 400-meter medley relay providing the only opportunity for a Georgia swimmer to potentially compete. Alum Javier Acevedo is eligible to swim for Canada on Friday morning in the men’s 400-meter medley relay.
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