Masse mixes things up in winning second medal
BUDAPEST, Hungary — Kylie Masse won her second world championship medal in as many days Wednesday, this time in one of swimming’s newest — and craziest — events: the 4x100-metre mixed medley relay.
The backstroker from LaSalle, Ont. teamed with Richard Funk (breaststroke), Penny Oleksiak (butterfly) and Yuri Kisil (freestyle) to win bronze, tied with China at 3:41.25, behind the U.S. (3:38.56) and Australia (3:41.21). All four countries beat the previous world record.
“It was such an incredible experience,” said Masse, 21, who won gold in the 100-metre backstroke on Tuesday. “That mixed relay is something I’ve never done before and isn’t offered at a lot of meets. To be able to do it here at the world championships was so much fun.”
The event, which debuted at the 2015 world championships and will be contested at the Olympics for the first time in Tokyo in 2020, features two men and two women on each team. Strokes are not dictated by gender, which means men and women race against each other.
“It’s interesting to watch,” said American Matt Grevers, who raced the backstroke leg against Masse. “You’re not sure who’s winning, even when one team is real far ahead. It’s uncharted territory, which is really fun, because as swimmers we usually know what’s going on.”
Canada was seventh after the first three legs, but Calgary’s Kisil charged past Italy, Russia and Great Britain to put Canada on the podium.
In the morning heat, Funk teamed with Javier Acevedo, Rebecca Smith and Chantal Van Landeghem, who also receive medals for advancing Canada to the final.
Meanwhile, American Katie Ledecky suffered her first loss — ever — at the world championships, finishing second to Italy’s Federica Pellegrini in the 200-metre freestyle. Ledecky had been 12 for 12 over the last three world championships, with three gold medals so far in Budapest.