OHIO — The men's U.S. swimming team now has back-to-back gold medals in the 4x100m freestyle relay after getting first place at the Tokyo Games, and among the team was Butler County native Zach Apple.
Apple, Caeleb Dressel, Blake Pieroni and Bowe Becker finished with a time of 3:08.97 — the third-fastest time in history. Apple served as the anchor for the team, who had a split of 46.69.
The team came close to the world and Olympic record of 3:08.24, held by Michael Phelps, Garrett Weber-Gale, Cullen Jones and Jason Lezak in 2008. The U.S. also won the gold medal in the event at the Rio Games in 2016.
This was Apple's debut, but he isn't finished yet. He's also representing Team USA In the 100m freestyle event.
The former Edgewood High School standout swam for Auburn and eventually Indiana University. According to Auburn University, Apple is the second-fastest swimmer in the 100 freestyle at the school.
The Tokyo Games wasn't his first time on the international stage, though. In 2017, he won the World Championships in Budapest in the men's 4x100m relay.
His list of achievements don't stop there. He also helped Indiana University win an NCAA title in the 400-medley relay, captured Big Ten championships in 200 and 400 free, 200 and 800 free relays and 400 medley relay, and won five gold medals at the World University Games in 2019.
Italy finished in second with a time of 3:10.11 and Australia placed third with a time of 3:10.22.