Chase Kalisz of the United States won his first swimming medal in Tokyo on Sunday, beating his teammate Jay Litherland in the Men’s 400m Individual Medley. When Litherland touched for silver, Team USA’s second medal was shortly behind.
Kalisz, one of a group of young guns tasked with continuing Michael Phelps’ reputation as the most decorated swimming Olympian in American history, was one of the favorites heading into the Games, and he did not disappoint.
After France’s Leon Marchand took the lead after the butterfly leg, the 27-year-old took the lead on the first length of the backstroke and never looked back.
During the breaststroke, he competed against New Zealand’s Lewis Clareburt, but the Kiwi faded significantly in the freestyle and finished seventh.
“It has enormous significance. This is the very last thing I intended to achieve in my swimming career “Kalisz stated.
“It had been a childhood fantasy of mine for as long as I could remember. I can’t believe what I’m hearing.”
Reference:https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/sports/tokyo-summer-olympics/chase-kalisz-wins-team-usas-first-swimming-medal-in-tokyo/2564296/
