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New York Post
Alex Walsh loses bronze in 200-meter individual medley after shock Olympics disqualification
By Ethan Sears,
3 hours ago
Alex Walsh didn’t get the gold medal she sought in the 200-meter individual medley race.
First, she had to settle for bronze.
Then, she had to settle for nothing at all.
Walsh, after finishing third in the pool, was disqualified for an illegal transition from backstroke to breaststroke, handing a spot on the podium to Australia’s Kaylee McKeown .
US’ Alex Walsh (L) reacts next to US’ Kate Douglass after being disqualified in the final of the women’s 200m individual medley swimming event during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Paris La Defense Arena in Nanterre, west of Paris, on August 3, 2024. AFP via Getty Images
Ironically, McKeown was disqualified at the 2023 World Championship 200-meter IM semifinal race for the same reason, which Swimming Australia called “unjust” at the time, while claiming that Walsh had completed an illegal turn in the finals of that meet.
Walsh’s younger sister, Gretchen, is also competing in Paris and won gold in the mixed 4×100-meter relay.
United States’ Alex Walsh walks off the pool after the women’s 200-meter individual medley final at the Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. AP
That was one of just six gold medals the United States has won in swimming, behind Australia’s seven — with four golds to be handed out on Sunday in the last day of the swim competition.
Outside of Katie Ledecky, who won golds in the 800 and 1500-meter freestyle races, and Douglass in the 200-meter breaststroke, the U.S. has largely performed below par, despite leading in the overall medal count.
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