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DANA POINT (CNS) - Katie McLaughlin, who was raised in Dana Point, won an Olympic silver medal, California time, swimming the third leg on the U.S. women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay team.
The U.S. was third in the field of eight after Allison Schmitt swam the first leg in one minute, 56.34 seconds and Paige Madden the second in 1:55.25.
McLaughlin swam her leg in 1:55.38, keeping the U.S. in third behind China and Australia. Katie Ledecky swam the final leg in 1:53.76, the fastest leg in the race, to pass Australia and give the U.S. the second-place finish in 7:40.73, to set an American record.
China won in 7:40.33, breaking the world record of 7:41:50 set by an Australian team in 2019.
“It was like a dream," McLaughlin told NBC. “Before we walked out, I had said to Katie, this is like a dream walking out on a finals relay for the U.S. I'm biased that the 800 free is the best one. I can't even explain."
McLaughlin, who turned 24 July 9, made her Olympic debut earlier Wednesday, California time, swimming the third leg as the U.S. won its heat.
The 4x200-meter freestyle relay is the only event McLaughlin will compete in at the Tokyo Games.
McLaughlin graduated from Santa Margarita Catholic High School in 2015 after winning seven individual Southern Section championships and swimming on seven Southern Section champion relay teams.
She swam for the University of California, Berkeley from 2016-19, setting school records in the 100 butterfly and 200 butterfly.
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