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Tokyo Olympics 2021: Australia wins bronze in the men’s 4x200 freestyle final

Australia has won the bronze medal in the mens 4x200m freestyle after teenage anchor Tommy Neill roared home and out touched the Americans for the final podium spot.

The Australian 4x200m men's relay team including Kyle Chalmers, Alexander Graham, Zac Incerti and Thomas Neill win bronze. Picture: Adam Head
The Australian 4x200m men's relay team including Kyle Chalmers, Alexander Graham, Zac Incerti and Thomas Neill win bronze. Picture: Adam Head

Australia has won the bronze medal in the mens 4x200m freestyle after teenage anchor Tommy Neill roared home and out touched the Americans for the final podium spot.

In a brilliant last leg Neill was keeping pace with the Russians, the Italians and the Americans, while Great Britain, who has the two fastest 200m freestylers in the world in Tom Dean and Duncan Scott, was well ahead.

In the final 20m, Neill was able to pull ahead of the American team – which has dominated this event for the past four Olympics – and was going stroke for stroke with Russia. In the end Neill finished just three-hundred’s shy of Russia.

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Great Britain, who won the event for the first time since the event was first swum in 1908, was a fingernail off the world record, clocking 6 minutes 58.58s.

Russia won the silver in 7min01.81 and Australia won the bronze in 7min01.84.

Australia’s lead off swimmer Alexander Graham clocked 1.46.00 but in a near blanket finish was seventh at the handover to Kyle Chalmers.

Kyle Chalmers, Alexander Graham, Zac Incerti and Tommy Neill win Bronze at the Tokyo Aquatic Centre. Picture: Adam Head
Kyle Chalmers, Alexander Graham, Zac Incerti and Tommy Neill win Bronze at the Tokyo Aquatic Centre. Picture: Adam Head

Chalmers, in his trademark style, pulled the team back into fourth spot for Zac Incerti to keep the team in touch for Neill to draw deep.

Graham was thrilled with the result in his first Olympics.

Unbelievable for my first Games,” he told Channel 7.

“We always knew it would be a tight race. The field was top notch so I think on the day to come away with a medal is pretty special.”

Chalmers said racing in a final was always special.

I think historically I’ve swam second in a lot of relays now and I knew that the 4x2 I wanted to be second and have the big rooster bring us home,” he said.

“It was solid and the Brits almost broke the world record so to be in that race is special.”

Neil was ecstatic with his medal

“Pretty unreal. I was nervous being the anchor. I wasn’t going to give away the medal,” he told Channel 7.

“A bronze medal at the Olympics. As Matty Johns said in 1997 it is better than Lego.”

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Originally published as Tokyo Olympics 2021: Australia wins bronze in the men’s 4x200 freestyle final

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/olympics/tokyo-olympics-2021-australia-wins-bronze-in-the-mens-4x200-freestyle-final/news-story/890724478636a63a706ab66391ec94fe