Dover’s Hunter Armstrong Helps Team USA Win Olympic Relay Gold

Posted on by Vaseline

Rohith Nair
| Reuters

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PARIS — Dover’s Hunter Armstrong is an Olympic gold medalist helping his star teammate Caeleb Dressel continue his gold streak.

Dressel has made a habit of winning only gold medals at the Olympics, and the American swimmer won his eighth on Saturday in Paris. Armstrong and Dressel were half of the U.S. 4×100-meter freestyle relay that defeated Australia and Italy to win gold at La Defense Arena.

The U.S. posted a time of 3:09.28, with Armstrong giving the Americans a commanding lead with a flashy third leg of the relay. Dressel swam the final leg and took gold — his fifth relay gold at the Olympics and third straight in the event.

For Armstrong, a graduate of Dover High School, it is the second gold medal of his career. He won one three years ago in Tokyo, where he reached the semifinals of the 4×1 medley relay.

Dressel had a big smile on his face as the American flag was raised and the national anthem was played, but the 27-year-old soon had tears streaming down his face as he hugged his family, including his 5-month-old son, moments later.

“It’s really special to make the team for him and then win a gold medal for him. Just checking off little boxes that I never thought about in my entire career,” Dressel told reporters.

“You can’t explain this moment until you’re on the podium and you see the flag go. … I remember what it was like for me, my first gold. I mean, I lost it, I came off the podium, but it’s special to see that and be a part of that with these guys.

“It’s an extremely special moment and no one can take that away from them (their teammates). Relays are just a little bit more special. It takes me back to my first gold, it really doesn’t get old.”

While Dressel couldn’t control his emotions, his teammate Jack Alexy was much more stoic on the podium, despite winning his first Olympic gold medal.

“I felt really honored to be a part of this relay and to see Caeleb cross the finish line for us, making Team USA proud and starting off with a gold medal,” said the 21-year-old.

“I was able to find my family (later) and that was amazing. That’s when I got really emotional. I saw them crying, they were amazing the whole ride.”

But it was Armstrong’s blistering 46.75 split that really helped the US win gold. It was the first Olympic final, and he delivered.

“I just went in there! I’ll give my whole body and soul for these guys,” he said.

“And I knew I had to give Caeleb everything I had (for the final stage), so I’m happy I was able to complete my task.”

Armstrong returns to the pool Sunday morning as one of the top contenders in the 100-meter backstroke.

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