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The United States won gold in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay and added two more individual medals from Claire Curzan and Ryan Held during the fourth night of finals at the 15th FINA Short Course World Championships (25m) in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. 

The highlight of the night came in the final event, as the U.S. contingent of Kieran Smith (1:41.79), Trenton Julian (1:41.35), Carson Foster (1:41.65) and Ryan Held (1:42.21) claimed gold in the men’s 4x200-meter free relay in 6:47.00, more than two seconds ahead of Russia (6:49.12) and Brazil (6:49.60). That chopped more than 2.5 seconds off the previous American record of 6:49.58, set back in 2010 at the short course Worlds in Dubai. 

“We had a meeting with the coaches ahead of time and they were saying this was probably our best relay," Held said. "So I was like ‘If this is our best, let’s go for it. Let’s fight everyone and bring home the medal.’”

TAC Titans' Claire Curzan got the ball rolling for the Americans, setting a new world junior and American record in the women’s 50m fly final. Curzan touched in 24.55 to knock off Madeline Banic’s 24.80 from the U.S. record books and take bronze behind Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands (24.44) and Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden (24.51). Kromowidjojo’s time set a new championship record. Torri Huske finished fourth in the final with a 24.88. 

“It’s honestly an honor," said Curzan when asked about setting the new records. "I was not expecting that, I had to do a little bit of a double take when I saw the little icon next to my time, but it’s incredible. I’m so blessed to have this opportunity and I’m super excited for the future.”

After qualifying first in the semi-finals, Held ended up winning silver in the men’s 50m free final with a 20.70, behind gold medalist Benjamin Proud of Great Britain (20.45). 

In other events tonight, the Americans finished fourth in a very tight 4x50m free relay final, with Held (20.72), Shaine Casas (20.73), Zach Apple (21.06) and Smith (21.30) posting a 1:23.81, only two tenths behind Italy’s gold medal-winning time of 1:23.61. 

Casas later finished seventh in the men’s 50m back final with a 22.99, only .09 out of the silver medal spot. Smith, the bronze medalist from Tokyo, returned later in the evening to take fifth in the men’s 400m free in 3:38.77. 

Melanie Margalis finished seventh in the women’s 100m IM final with a 59.10. Tom Shields will represent the U.S. in the men’s 50m fly final tomorrow after qualifying fifth in 22.29, while Emily Escobedo earned a spot in the women’s 100m breast final with her eighth-place semi-final showing of 1:04.81. 

The U.S. stretched their lead in the medal count to eight – they now have 19 total medals – five gold, five silver and nine bronze.