The women's 4×200 metre freestyle relay event and place at the

2000 Summer Olympics The 2000 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXVII Olympiad and also known as Sydney 2000 (Dharug: ''Gadigal 2000''), the Millennium Olympic Games or the Games of the New Millennium, was an international multi-sport event held from 1 ...

took place on 20 September at the

Sydney International Aquatic Centre The Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre (SOPAC) , formerly Sydney International Aquatic Centre (SIAC), is a swimming pool, swimming venue located in the Sydney Olympic Park in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Built in 1994, the SOPAC was a majo ...

Sydney, Australia Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and List of cities in Oceania by population, Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metro ...

. The U.S. women's team established a new Olympic record to defend their title with the help of a sterling anchor leg from

Jenny Thompson Jennifer Beth Thompson (born February 26, 1973) is an American former competition swimmer and anesthesiologist. She is one of the most decorated Olympians in history: twelve medals, including eight gold medals, in the 1992, 1996, 2000, and 200 ...

. Throughout most of the race, the Americans were trailing slightly behind the host nation Australia until Thompson dived into the pool at the final exchange. Thompson held off a sprint battle from

Petria Thomas Petria Ann Thomas, (born 25 August 1975) is an Australian swimmer and Olympic gold medallist and a winner of 15 national titles. She was born in Lismore, New South Wales, and grew up in the nearby town of Mullumbimby. Career In 1993, at the a ...

on the final stretch until she touched the wall by seven-tenths of a second (0.70) with a remarkable split of 1:59.35 to deliver the foursome of Samantha Arsenault (1:59.92),

Diana Munz Diana Marie Munz (born June 19, 1982), later known by her married name Diana DePetro, is an American former competition swimming (sport), swimmer and Olympic champion from Moreland Hills, Ohio. She represented the United States at the 2000 Summe ...

(1:59.19), and

Lindsay Benko Lindsay Dianne Benko (born November 29, 1976), also known by her married name as Lindsay Mintenko, is an American former competition swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, and former world record-holder. She represented the United States at the 2000 Su ...

(1:59.34) a gold-medal time in 7:57.80. As the Americans celebrated their triumph in the pool, Thompson picked up her ninth career medal to break a tie with former East Germany's

Kristin Otto Kristin Otto (; born 7 February 1966) is a German Olympic swimming champion. She is most famous for being the first woman to win six gold medals at a single Olympic Games, doing so at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.

for the most golds, a total of seven, and to maintain her position as the most successful woman in Olympic history. After leading three-fourths of the race, Australia's Thomas (2:00.32),

Susie O'Neill Susan O'Neill, (born 2 August 1973) is an Australian former competitive swimmer from Brisbane, Queensland, nicknamed "Madame Butterfly". She achieved eight Olympic Games medals during her swimming career. Early life Susan (Susie) O'Neill was ...

(1:58.70),

Giaan Rooney Giaan Leigh Rooney, OAM (born 15 November 1982) is an Australian former competitive swimmer and television personality. As a member of the Australian team in women's 4×100-metre medley relay, she won an Olympic gold medal and broke a world ...

(1:59.37), and

Kirsten Thomson Kirsten Thomson (born 27 September 1983) is an Australian middle-distance freestyle swimmer who won a silver medal in the 4×200-metre freestyle relay at the 2000 Summer Olympics. Coming from Sydney, New South Wales, Thomson was still attendin ...

(2:00.13) powered home with a silver in 7:58.52. Meanwhile, Germany's

Franziska van Almsick Franziska van Almsick (; born 5 April 1978) is a German swimmer. She won her first Olympic medals in 1992 at the Barcelona Olympic Games aged 14. Her career began at the SC Dynamo Berlin. She has the distinction of having the most career Olym ...

(1:59.51), Antje Buschschulte (2:00.35), and Sara Harstick (2:00.88) helped their teammate

Kerstin Kielgass Kerstin Kielgass (German spelling: Kerstin Kielgaß; born 6 December 1969) is a German former swimmer. Kielgass won her first major title in 1985 in the East German 4×100 m relay team at the World Championships. She also won as a member ...

produce a striking anchor of 1:57.90 to capture the bronze medal in 7:58.64. For the first time in Olympic history, all three teams finished the race under an eight-minute barrier. Outside the club, Romania's Camelia Potec (1:59.10), Simona Păduraru (2:01.52),

Ioana Diaconescu Ioana Lorena Diaconescu (born 30 June 1979, in Bucharest) is a former freestyle swimmer from Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria t ...

(2:01.47), and

Beatrice Câșlaru Beatrice Nicoleta Câșlaru (also Coadă; born 20 August 1975 in Brăila) is a former medley swimmer from Romania, who competed in three consecutive Summer Olympics for her native country, starting in 1996. At her second Olympic appearance ...

(1:59.54) missed the podium with a fourth-place time of 8:01.63, worthy enough for a national record. Canada (8:02.65), Great Britain (8:03.69), Italy (8:04.68), and France (8:05.99) rounded out the championship finale.

Records

Prior to this competition, the existing world and Olympic records were as follows. The following new world and Olympic records were set during this competition.

Results

Heats

Final

References

External links

Official Olympic Report
{{DEFAULTSORT:Swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Women's 4 by 200 metre freestyle relay F 4 × 200 metre freestyle relay 2000 in women's swimming Women's events at the 2000 Summer Olympics