The electrifying Eddie Reese Showdown in Austin, Texas, witnessed a thrilling spectacle as professional swimmers, including Olympic stars Leon Marchand and Summer McIntosh, dove into the pool for an exhibition medley relay! This event, held on January 23-24, 2026, at the prestigious Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center, offered a fantastic glimpse into the prowess of these elite athletes. While the official meet featured intense competition, these medley relays served as a captivating prelude, igniting the crowd's excitement before the final 400 free relay.
But here's where it gets interesting... The format for these relays was a combined men's and women's race, meaning the individual leg times won't be counted as official personal bests for certain strokes. Still, the performances were undeniably impressive!
For the women's medley relay, the powerhouse lineup featured Regan Smith on backstroke, Anna Elendt handling breaststroke, Summer McIntosh taking on butterfly, and the legendary Simone Manuel anchoring with freestyle. They clocked an impressive 3:23.47.
On the men's side, the team consisted of Shaine Casas leading off with backstroke, Jack Kelly powering through the breaststroke, Leon Marchand showcasing his butterfly skills, and Chris Guiliano finishing strong with freestyle. Their combined effort resulted in a speedy 2:59.88.
Let's dive into some of the individual legs:
- Backstroke: Shaine Casas kicked things off with a 44.59, just a touch off his lifetime best. Regan Smith followed with a 49.32, touching in second place, which is a bit unusual for her in a leadoff position.
- Breaststroke: Jack Kelly powered through his leg with a 50.91, helping the men extend their lead. Anna Elendt swam a strong 57.26 for the women.
- Butterfly: The highly anticipated showdown between Summer McIntosh and Leon Marchand on the butterfly leg was a highlight! Marchand blazed through with a 43.68, nearly a full second faster than his previous best. McIntosh also delivered a fantastic performance, swimming 50.68, slightly faster than her personal best.
- Freestyle: Chris Guiliano anchored the men's relay with a 40.70, bringing them to their final time. Simone Manuel delivered a solid 46.21 for the women's team.
And this is the part most people miss... After the dust settled and the times were announced, the announcers revealed that Leon Marchand had a very noticeable false start on his butterfly leg. This unfortunate technicality led to the disqualification of the men's team, making the women's medley relay the de facto winners of this exhibition race! A dramatic turn of events, wouldn't you agree?
Before the races, fans were also treated to autograph sessions with many of these incredible athletes, including Lindsay Looney, Luke Hobson, and Carson Foster, adding an extra layer of excitement to the event.
The meet itself concluded on Saturday morning with a final session featuring Texas, Ohio State, and Louisville. While the exhibition relays provided a thrilling display of individual talent, the official results of the main competition are also worth exploring!
What are your thoughts on the combined men's and women's relays? Do you think this format should be more common in swimming events, or does it detract from the traditional competitive structure? Let us know in the comments below – we'd love to hear your take!
