The men's 4×200 metre freestyle relay, or 800 metre team race, was one of six
swimming
Swimming is the self-propulsion of a person through water, or other liquid, usually for recreation, sport, exercise, or survival. Locomotion is achieved through coordinated movement of the limbs and the body to achieve hydrodynamic thrust that r ...
events on the
Swimming at the 1908 Summer Olympics
At the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, six swimming events were contested. These were the first Olympic Games in which a 100-metre pool had been especially constructed (inside the main stadium's track and field oval). Previous Olympic events wer ...
programme. It was the only relay event on the schedule, and the first appearance of the 4x200 in Olympic competition. Each nation could enter 1 team of 4 swimmers.
[Official Report, p. 40.]
Results
Semifinals
The fastest team in each semifinal and the fastest losing team from across the semifinals advanced to the final.
Semifinal 1
Semifinal 2
Semifinal 3
Hungary had no competition in the third semifinal.
Final
Hungary led throughout the race until Halmay veered towards the wall and was caught by Taylor (who had only just before passed Rich) in the final 20 yards. Halmay struggled to the finish line, and was hauled out of the pool before he drowned.
Sources
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References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Swimming At The 1908 Summer Olympics - Men's 4 X 200 Metre Freestyle Relay
Men's relay relay freestyle 0800
4 × 200 metre freestyle relay