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The jack of all trades event for swimmers, the individual medley combines no less than four different styles of swimming in a single event. The Aussies will be looking to back up a gold medal won in the women’s competition at Delhi 2010 when they take on the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
What is it?
Coming in both a 200m and 400m variety, the medley divides these lengths up into four equal portions, each of which must be completed in a different stroke. Butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle are the strokes used, in that order.
The Aussie men didn’t have much luck at Delhi 2010, but the women dominated for the green and gold, taking home the gold medal in the 200m, and silver in both the 200m and the 400m.
The medley event begins on July 24 and continues through to July 29, with 200m, 400m, with para sport versions also being held for women and men.
The Aussies
Swimming is our specialty, and the Aussies have named a strong squad of no less than 59 swimmers to enter the variety of aquatic events on offer at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. We claimed 22 gold medals at Delhi 2010 and will be looking to beat that this year.
Alicia Coutts is the headliner when it comes to the individual medley as she seeks to defend the gold medal she won in the 200m event at Delhi 2010, one of five gold medals she won at that meet.
We’ll also be keeping a close eye on Emily Seebohm who finished with a silver at Delhi in the 200m, not far behind her Coutts. Seebohm has been around a long time, but at just 22 she is still a rising star of the Australian swimming team, and has previously held the 50m backstroke world record.
The Competition
The Aussies love a splash. We’re the dominant swimming nation in the Commonwealth by a wide, wide margin. At a running total since the original 1930 ‘British Empire Games’, we’ve won 237 gold medals in swimming, with the next best being Canada on 103. England has 77, and then no other country has more than 15 across that whole period of time.
These two nations are the most likely to challenge Australia for swimming events at Glasgow 2014, the individual medley included. Keep an eye out for the South Africans though, who won seven golds in the swimming at Delhi 2010.
The Facts
– Prior to 1952, the butterfly stroke was not defined as a separate stroke from breaststroke, and to this date medley races only featured the three strokes. From 1954 onwards it was mandatory to include all four.
– Unfortunately Australia doesn’t hold any of the world records in the individual medley – yet. Americans Ryan Lochte (200m – men’s), Michael Phelps (400m – men’s) and Ariana Kukors (200m – womens’) hold three of the four records, China’s Ye Shiwen is the odd one out, holding the 400m women’s record.
– In addition to holding the individual medley, a medley relay is also held at the Commonwealth Games on each occasion, and Australia has claimed gold in this event the last six times running.
What to Drink while watching
The medley is the ultimate test of a swimmer’s all-round ability. It is complex, sophisticated, elegant and powerful. A fine Bordeaux red would be just the thing. Alternatively, a flight of herbal teas.
This article was first published on the Tenplay website here.