WATCH:Team USA swimmer Chris Guiliano shares an emotional moment with family after winning the first gold medal in 4x100m freestyle at Paris Olympics
Chris Guiliano ran to his family for a celebratory hug after the USA won the 4x100m freestyle relay gold. The team was made up of Guiliano, Caeleb Dressel, Hunter Armstrong, and Jack Alexy. Guiliano, the Notre Dame member representing Team USA, secured his first Olympic gold on the first day of the Paris Games.
Coming into 2024 Olympic Year, Guiliano displayed a string of stellar performances at the 2024 US Olympic Trials. He secured three podiums: second in the men's 200m freestyle in 1:45.38, first in the men's 100m freestyle in 47.38, and second in the men's 50m freestyle in 21.69. His achievement made him the first US male swimmer to make three individual teams for the Olympics since Matt Biondi did it in 1988.
On the first day of the Paris Olympics, in the 4x100m men's freestyle, Guiliano swam the fastest split for the USA. He clocked 47.33 for his split time. The team clocked a total time of 3:09.28, earning the first gold for the USA in Paris.
After his debut win and medal ceremony, Guiliano ran to his parents and hugged his mother Cecilia, as posted on the USA Swimming Instagram handle.
"Family over everything," the caption read.
The team's winning time was 1.07s better than the Australian team, who finished second in 3:10.05. China secured the bronze with 3:10.70.
Chris Guiliano, the Notre Dame senior, displayed below-par performances in the 2023 NCAA Championships. In 2024, he improved his finishing times, securing fourth in the 50yard, fifth in the 100yard, and third in the 200yard freestyle events.
Chris Guiliano - "Each meet I feel like I have like more goals"
Chris Guiliano won the men's 4x100m freestyle relay bronze and mixed 4x100m relay silver at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, after being named to the Worlds team by virtue of his promising performances in the past year.
In an interview, Guiliano shared that he feels like he has to meet more goals with each passing event.
"I feel like I have like more goals like each goal gets higher and higher," he said. (via Swim Swam)
Guiliano will next enter the pool for the 100m freestyle heats on July 30, 2024, followed by the semifinals on July 31 and the finals on August 1, if he makes it to both. He will also compete in the 50m and 200m freestyle, the only US swimmer to take part in three individual events in the French capital.