Leukemia-survivor Rikako Ikee and her Japan team finished eighth in the women's 4x100 medley relay on the final day of the Tokyo Olympic swimming on Sunday, while the men set a new national record in finishing sixth in the corresponding event.
Ikee, who made a remarkable recovery to make the games after being diagnosed with the form of blood cancer in February 2019, made her first final in her third relay appearance at Tokyo Aquatics Centre. She hit the water third for Japan, taking the butterfly leg.
Australia won in an Olympic record 3 minutes, 51.60 seconds, edging the United States by 0.13 with Canada finishing third. Japan's team of Anna Konishi, Kanako Watanabe, Ikee and Chihiro Igarashi clocked 3:58.12.
"Really a lot of things happened over the past five years and the Tokyo Olympics was something that I gave up at one point, but I feel really happy to have been able to swim as a relay member in the final," said Ikee, who was in tears like her teammates.
"It's not a result I alone produced, but coming this far while not being sure if I can make the games, the games going ahead safely and getting to return (to the Olympics) here, I'm really happy."
The United States set a men's 4x100 medley relay world record in 3:26.78, pipping Great Britain by 0.73. Italy came third, while Japan's team of Ryosuke Irie, Ryuya Mura, Naoki Mizunuma and Katsumi Nakamura touched in 3:29.91.
"I've entered trying to enjoy the atmosphere for one last time," said Irie, the silver medalist in the 200 backstroke and bronze medalist in the 100 backstroke at the 2012 London Games.
"It's been an honor to have swum the first leg in the relay since 2012 and I'm happy to have competed in the final in Tokyo."
Caeleb Dressel of the United States took his gold medal tally to five at the games after claiming the men's 50 freestyle title in an Olympic record 21.07 before also swimming the men's medley relay. Florent Manadou of France won silver in 21.55 and Bruno Fratus of Brazil bronze.
"It was really fun competing here and I wouldn't change a single thing," Dressel said. "I'll give myself a pat on the back and then I'll just put it away and move forward. I'm going to take a break here -- I'm pretty over swimming."
U.S. swimmer Caeleb Dressel reacts after winning the men's 50-meter freestyle final at the Tokyo Olympics on Aug. 1, 2021, at Tokyo Aquatics Centre. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
Emma McKeon of Australia won the women's 50 freestyle in an Olympic record 23.81 before adding her fourth gold in the medley relay. Sarah Sjoestroem of Sweden came second 0.26 behind with Pernille Blume of Denmark third.
"It is very surreal," McKeon said after winning four gold and three bronze medals. "I feel like it has been a bit of a rollercoaster getting a gold medal and trying to keep the emotions at bay. It will take a while to sink in because I've been focusing on myself to keep my cool. I'm very proud of myself."
Robert Finke of the United States showed a great burst of speed on the final lap to win the men's 1,500 crown in 14:39.65, with silver going to Mykhailo Romanchuk of Ukraine and bronze to Florian Wellbrock of Germany.
