Olympics swimming Day 4 results, highlights: Ireland's Daniel Wiffen makes history, USA wins four medals

It was an eventful Day 4 of swimming at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Tuesday at La Defense Arena was highlighted by three finals – the women's 100m backstroke, the men's 800m freestyle, and the men's 4x200 freestyle relay. None of the trio disappointed, with plenty of heats and semifinals providing entertainment, as well. 

In the women's 100m backstroke, Australia's Kaylee McKeown beat out USA's Regan Smith for gold, becoming only the second woman ever to defend the 100m backstroke. Smith settled for silver, and USA's Katharine Berkoff earned bronze. 

The women's 100-meter backstroke final is led by world record holder Regan Smith of the United States. She set the world record with a 57.13 finish at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials in June 2024.

USA's Bobby Finke was unable to defend his gold medal in the men's 800m freestyle on Tuesday. Instead, Ireland's Daniel Wiffin became the first Irish male swimmer to earn a medal of any sort at the Olympics, claiming gold in the event.  Wiffen beat out Finke (silver) and Italy's Gregorio Paltrinieri (bronze). 

In the final race of the day, it was an exhilarating three-headed finish in the men's 4x200m freestyle relay. Great Britain, the USA, and Australia all pulled ahead of the pack late in the race, but it was the Brits who finished the lengthy relay first. 

In total, the United States won four medals in swimming on Tuesday, with three silvers and a bronze medal. 

The Sporting News tracked live results and updates from Day 4 of Olympic swimming on Monday. Follow along with the medalists below.

MORE: Watch Olympics swimming live with Fubo (free trial)

Olympic swimming results

2024 PARIS OLYMPICS
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Live swimming updates, highlights from 2024 Olympics

(All times Eastern)

4:26 p.m.: Great Britain are the men's 4x200 freestyle relay champions yet again! The Brits hold off the Americans and the Aussies to defend their gold medal in the event. The foursome of James Guy, Tom Dean, Matthew Richards, and Duncan Scott got out to a great start, grabbing the lead heading into the second half of the relay and did not look back. A great final lap by Scott led to a finish in 6:59.43. The USA earned silver and Australia bronze. 

Team USA grabs silver in the 4x200m relay! 🥈

Great Britain secures gold with a commanding win. #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/CxGcIilCtG

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 30, 2024

4:24 p.m.: Great Britain, the United States and Australia have pulled away from the pack with the final swimmers entering the pool. With just four laps to go, it's Duncan Scott leading the way for the British squad, with Kieran Smith in the pool for the U.S. 

4:22 p.m.: Australia is out in front of Great Britain and Germany through the first 400m of the relay. The United States is in fourth. 

4:15 p.m.: Wrapping up today's swim action is the men's 4x200m freestyle relay. Team USA sends out the quartet of Luke Hobson, Carson Foster, Drew Kibler, and Kieran Smith. The Americans' four-time defending streak at the event was snapped in Tokyo. The crew looks to get the gold back in 2024. 

4:10 p.m.: Marchand sends the French crowd at La Defense Arena into jubilation, winning the second semifinal in the men's 200m breaststroke with a time of 2:08.11 He finishes ahead of Japan's Ippei Watanabe and Yu Hanaguruma, who place second and third. In addition, world record holder Qin Haiyang of China fails to make the final, a notable omission for tomorrow's final. 

3:58 p.m.: Stubblety-Cook is the first to finish the first semifinal of the men's 200m breaststroke. The Australian finishes 0.42 seconds ahead of China's Dong Zhihao. 

3:47 p.m.: Up next is the men's 200m breaststroke semifinals. Australia's Zac Stubblety-Cook and France's Leon Marchand are the men to watch in this race. 

3:44 p.m.: It's an incredibly close finish in the second semifinal. Torri Huske was in the lead for as good portion of the event, but it was close the entire time. Right at the end, Huske falls all the way to fourth, with Australia's Mollie O'Callaghan finishing first. Both Huske and Walsh advance to swim in the finals of the women's 100m freestyle, which will take place tomorrow. 

3:37 p.m.: Hong Kong's Siobhan Bernadette Haughey beats out the big names at the very end in the first semifinal, finishing ahead of Shayna Jack and Gretchen Walsh. Walsh ends with a fourth-place finish for the USA, putting her in the danger zone for placement in the finals. 

3:30 p.m.: The United States has two swimmers in the women's 100m freestyle — Gretchen Walsh and Torri Huske. The two are competing in separate semifinals, with Walsh up first, followed by Huske in the second semi. 

3:23 p.m.: It's back to semifinals for now. The women's 100m freestyle goes a little after 3:30 p.m. ET with two semifinals before the men's 200m breaststroke has its two semifinals. The mens; 4x200m freestyle relay will wrap up the action. 

Bobby Finke's valiant comeback comes up just short of gold, but he earns SILVER in the 800m free! 💪

📺 NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/WeKAUx0G0e

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 30, 2024

3:19 p.m.: What a finish in the men's 800m freestyle. USA's Bobby Finke fell behind Ireland's Daniel Wiffen and Italy's Gregorio Patrinieri and made a push at the end, but the American was only able to pass the Italian for second. Wiffen makes history as the first Irish male swimmer to win any sort of Olympic medal, earning gold in the event. 

3:10 p.m.: Now it's the second of three swimming finals on the docket, with the men's 800m freestyle up next. USA's Bobby Finke is one to watch in this event, but Australia's Elijah Winnington and Italy's Gregorio Paltrinieri are considered the favorites in the race. 

3:07 p.m.: We have a new world record in the women's 100m backstroke! Australia's Kaylee McKeown narrowly beats USA's Regan Smith for the gold medal, finishing the finals race in 57.33. Smith was just 0.33 seconds behind the Aussie and takes second place. Katharine Berkoff finishes third to win a bronze for the USA.  

WHAT A RACE.

Regan Smith and Katharine Berkoff secure silver and bronze in the 100m backstroke! 🥈🥉#ParisOlympics | 📺 NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/e7QZVk86TZ

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 30, 2024

3 p.m.: We have a medal up for grabs. Eight swimmers are taking part in the women's 100m backstroke. Australia's Kaylee McKeown and USA's Regan Smith are the two favorites for gold. 

2:54 p.m.: While Marchand won the first semifinal, the best time in the semis belongs to Hungary's Kristof Milak, who finishes the second semifinal in 1:52.72. The men's 200m butterfly group will go for gold tomorrow afternoon. 

2:49 p.m.: Marchand shines indeed. The Frenchman finishes the first semifinal race at 1:53.50, the best out of the eight swimmers in his group. 

2:42 p.m.: Up next is the men's 200 butterfly semifinals. This is one of the events where France's Leon Marchand is expected to shine. 

2:40 p.m.: As anticipated, Pan paves the way in the second semifinal heat of the men's 100m freestyle, finishing with the top time of 47.21. Alexy punches his ticket to the finals for the USA, but he has his work cut out for him in order to medal. 

2:36 p.m.: Chalmers wins the first semifinal heat, finishing in 47.58 seconds. He'll go to the final where he is expected to contend for a medal. 

2:15 p.m.: Up first on the afternoon slate is the two semifinal heats for the men's 100m freestyle. China's Pan Zhanle is the favorite in the event, but Australia's Kyle Chalmers is expected to contend for gold. The United States' best shot is Jack Alexy. 

1:15 p.m.: The United States is in first in total swim medals so far with 11, however, only two of those have been gold. The Americans have earned four silver and five bronzes in the pool, but trail Australia's three gold for the most first-place finishes. 

12:49 p.m.: A reminder that only three events later have medals at stake: women's 100m backstroke, men's 800m freestyle and the men's 4x200m freestyle relay. 

12:11 p.m.: The women’s 100m freestyle should be an entertaining race to watch later today. There are no medals on the line today, but spots in the final will be decided. The Australian duo of Mollie O'Callaghan and Ariarne Tirmus and Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey come in as the favorites of the event. 

11:39 a.m.: A major race to watch in the afternoon slate is the women's 100m backstroke. Regan Smith recently set a new world record at the Olympic trials and will face Kaylee McKeown who had the record prior.

11:04 a.m.: Katie Ledecky swam this morning in the 1500 freestyle, once again dominating her heat. She'll compete in the finals tomorrow afternoon.

SHE'S DONE IT AGAIN 🫡🇺🇸@katieledecky advances to the Women's 1500 Freestyle Final!

📺: @NBCOlympics & @peacock#ParisOlympicspic.twitter.com/GrI63PNbML

— Team USA (@TeamUSA) July 30, 2024

10:59 a.m.: Qualifiers from five heats will race again this afternoon in either the semifinals or finals. Here are the five races: men's 100 freestyle (semifinals), men's 200 butterfly (semifinals), women's 100 freestyle (semifinals), men's 200 breaststroke (semifinals) and men's 4x200 freestyle relay (finals).

10:57 a.m.: Day 4 heats are finished as swimmers have earned their positions in the semifinals and finals for later today or tomorrow.

How to watch Olympic swimming

• Dates: July 27-Aug. 4
• Time: 5 a.m. ET, 2:30 p.m. ET
• TV channel: NBC, USA Network
• Live stream: Peacock, NBCOlympics.com, Fubo

Olympic swimming begins at 5 a.m. ET each day from July 27-Aug. 3. There will only be heats in the morning session. Every day will have an afternoon session that begins at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Aug. 4 is the final day of competition and will only feature an afternoon session with three finals races.

Fans can tune into the swimming competitions on NBC and USA Network. Those streaming can watch via Peacock, NBCOlympics.com or Fubo, which offers a free trial.

Olympic swimming schedule 2024

Olympic swimming begins on Saturday, July 27, and goes until Sunday, Aug. 4.

Swimmers begin at 5 a.m. ET each morning with heats that run until 2:30 p.m. ET when the afternoon session begins. The afternoon features semifinal and final races.

Aug. 4 will not have any morning races and will feature four finals in the afternoon.

Saturday, July 27

Sunday, July 28

Monday, July 29

Tuesday, July 30

Wednesday, July 31

Thursday, Aug. 1

Friday, Aug. 2

Saturday, Aug. 3

Sunday, Aug. 4