US rule pool with two world records, but suffer medley relay loss to China

The stunners: China’s (from left) Xu Jiayu, Qin Haiyang, Sun Jiajun and Pan Zhanle celebrate after beating the US to the men’s 4x100m medley relay team gold. It was the Americans’ first defeat in the event at the Olympics dating back to the 1960 edition. — Reuters

IRON-man Bobby Finke and the US women’s medley relay team shattered world records in golden performances as the Olympic swim meet ended in exhilarating fashion on Sunday with the Americans on top again.

Floridian Finke took down Sun Yang’s 12-year 1,500m world record as he retained the gold medal in the lung-busting event before the American women smashed their previous world mark for gold in the medley relay.