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2021 Olympic Games

Swimmer Emma Weyant cruises in 400-meter individual medley to top lane spot in Tokyo Olympics final

TOKYO — It may have been the preliminaries and a night of firsts, but Emma Weyant showed little mercy on the rest of the competition in the women's 400-meter individual medley. 

In the third of three heats, Weyant, who is from Sarasota, Florida, cruised to a body-length victory with a time of 4:33.55. It's faster than what she swam at the U.S. Olympic trials in Omaha, Nebraska, last month — and that mark of 4:33.81 was already the fastest time this year.

"I'm really happy with my time," she said after the race. "It's right what I went off of at trials." 

Emma Weyant (USA) during the women's 400m individual medley heats during the Tokyo Olympics.

Saturday night's swim was not only better, it set her up with top lane position in the final Sunday morning at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. 

The cruising didn't start immediately. The 19-year-old was a tad slow off the block, and actually touched the wall last after the first 50 meters of butterfly. By the first 50 of the backstroke, however, she had gained the lead and never looked back.

Weyant bested Katinka Hosszu, the world record holder in the event and gold medalist in Rio 2016 (one of three golds for her at those Games), by 2.46 seconds. Hosszu, 13 years Weyant's senior, finished fourth in the heat and seventh overall. 

"It's always an honor to race her," Weyant said. "It's really cool. I've looked up to her for a long time." 

When they raced two years ago, Weyant said, she "wasn't even close." 

"This is my first international meet. It's really cool to be at the Olympics," said Weyant, who will attend the University of Virginia this upcoming school year. "I was really just trying to set myself up well for tomorrow morning. I was really just trying to set myself up well for tomorrow morning." 

Not bad for a first. 

And if she does it again, she'll be hearing the "Star-Spangled Banner" by noon local time Sunday. 

Contributing: Christine Brennan, USA TODAY 

Follow Chris Bumbaca on Twitter @BOOMbaca

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