History in the 4x50-Meter Free: One Year Ago Today

“Who doesn’t want to be part of sports history? Being up there together on the podium for the first time, we were part of history.” Leanne Smith said, reflecting on Team USA’s silver medal performance in the mixed 4x50-meter freestyle 20-point relay on Aug. 30, 2024, at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

One year removed from Paris, the moment still shines as a breakthrough for U.S. Para Swimming. It marked the first time the United States ever stood on the podium in the event, accomplished with a lineup that totaled exactly 20 classification points.

The Americans finished in 2 minutes, 18.99 seconds in the final. The splits: Leanne Smith (S3) led off in 40.92 seconds, followed by Abbas Karimi (S5) in 34.34. Zach Shattuck (S6) swam third in 31.22, and Elizabeth Marks (S6) closed in 32.51.

For Smith, the podium moment remains one of the defining highlights of her career.

“Working together to make a dream and goal happen and get up on the podium with your teammates in such an individual sport … it’s rare to have those moments,” Smith said.

Shattuck, who raced the third leg, recalled both the nerves of the race and the thrill of seeing the results.

“Prelim was solid, but we knew we could sharpen up,” Shattuck said. “It looked like we’d wound up in third — the board initially showed Brazil, China, USA — but in that moment it didn’t matter because we were Paralympic medalists. … For Abbas and I, it was our first Paralympic medal and a moment I’ll never forget.”

One year later, the silver in the 4x50 relay is remembered as a defining moment for U.S. Para Swimming — a collective performance that delivered history on one of the sport’s biggest stages.