Lydia Jacoby, of United States, swims in a mixed 4x100-meter medley relay final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Lydia Jacoby, of United States, swims in a mixed 4x100-meter medley relay final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Jacoby and Team USA finish 5th in mixed medley

Jacoby finished 0.14 seconds under Monday’s gold medal time of 1:04.95.

Seward swimmer Lydia Jacoby, the 17-year-old who earned a gold medal in the 100-meter breaststroke at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, finished with Team USA in fifth place in the mixed 400 medley relay race on Friday night.

Great Britain struck gold, while China won silver and Australia finished with the bronze medal.

Jacoby raced second — the only woman to swim the breaststroke leg in that event — and upon her dive into the pool her goggles slipped down over her mouth, where they remained for the rest of her swim.

Although both her vision and her airway were obstructed, she only finished 0.14 seconds under Monday’s gold medal time of 1:04.95. Her medley time was 1:05.09.

One of Jacoby’s coaches, Meghan O’Leary, said via text message that Friday’s race proved how much of a threat Jacoby is in the water.

“It’s not much slower than her gold medal time event without googles,” she texted. “That’s how much of a competitor she is. That didn’t even rattle her!”

Jacoby’s teammates were Ryan Murphy, Torri Huske and Caeleb Dressel, who all finished in the top four of their individual events at the Olympic games. Murphy’s time was 52.23 seconds; Huske’s was 56.27 seconds and Dressel’s was 46.99 seconds.

This is the first Olympics to have a mixed medley race, which O’Leary said makes the competition more strategic.

“It’s super exciting,” she said. “This is kind of history in the making as well, and she’s on the team.”

Reach reporter Camille Botello at camille.botello@peninsulaclarion.com.

More in News

Dr. Katherine Ortega Courtney speaks during the 100% Alaska Community Town Hall on Saturday, June 3, 2023, at Peninsula Center Mall in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
100% Alaska survey results, state of services discussed at town hall

Change 4 the Kenai leads conversation about access to mental health, housing, transportation

Soldotna High School senior Josiah Burton testifies in opposition to a proposed cut of Kenai Peninsula Borough School District theater technicians while audience members look on during a board of education meeting on Monday, March 6, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Awaiting state funding, board of ed works to bring back staff positions

Alaska lawmakers this session passed a budget bill that includes $175 million in one-time funding for Alaska’s K-12 schools

David Brighton (left) and Leslie Byrd (right) prepare to lead marchers from the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex to Soldotna Creek Park as part of Soldotna Pride in the Park on Saturday, June 3, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
‘Nobody Can Drag Us Down’: Soldotna celebrates LGBTQ+ pride

The event featured food trucks, vendors and a lineup of performers that included comedy, drag and music

Judges Peter Micciche, Terry Eubank and Tyler Best sample a salmon dish prepared by chef Stephen Lamm of the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank at Return of the Reds on Saturday, June 3, 2023, at the Kenai City Dock in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai celebrates ‘Return of the Reds’ in food bank fundraiser

Chefs competed for best salmon recipe; fresh-caught fish auctioned

A freshly stocked rainbow trout swims in Johnson Lake during Salmon Celebration on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at Johnson Lake in Kasilof, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Excellent lake fishing, good halibut and slow salmon

Northern Kenai Fishing Report for June 1

Map via Kenai Peninsula Borough.
Assembly to consider emergency service area for Cooper Landing

Borough legislation creating the service area is subject to voter approval

Peter Micciche (center) listens to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly certify the results of the Feb. 14, 2023, special mayoral election, through which he was elected mayor of the Kenai Peninsula Borough, on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Thousands respond to borough services survey

Many of the survey questions focused on the quality of borough roads

Two new cars purchased by the Soldotna Senior Center to support its Meals on Wheels program are parked outside of the center in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, March 30, 2022.(Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion file)
Soldotna budget defunds area senior center

The unanimous vote came after multiple people expressed concerns about how the center operates

An Epidemiology Bulletin titled “Drowning Deaths in Alaska, 2016-2021” published Wednesday, May 31, 2023. (Screenshot)
Health officials say Alaska leads nation in drowning deaths, urge safe practices

A majority of non-occupational Alaska drownings occur in relation to boating, both for recreation and for subsistence

Most Read