individual medley

American  

noun

Swimming.

1. a race in which the total distance is either divided into three equal portions, in which each swimmer uses the backstroke for the first portion, the breaststroke for the second portion, and the freestyle for the third, or the total distance is divided into four equal portions, in which each swimmer uses the butterfly stroke for the first portion and then the other strokes used follow the same pattern as in the three-part medley.

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Etymology

Origin of individual medley

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

Marchand, now training in Austin with former Michael Phelps coach Bob Bowman, added the victory to the 200m and 400m individual medley titles he captured earlier this week.

From Barron's

Olympic swim stars Summer McIntosh and Leon Marchand delivered another pair of dominant wins on Friday as they powered to 400m individual medley victories on the third day of the Pro Swim Series in Austin, Texas.

From Barron's

Olympic swim stars Summer McIntosh and Leon Marchand cruised to 200m individual medley victories as US great Katie Ledecky impressed again on the second day of the Pro Swim Series in Austin, Texas, on Thursday.

From Barron's

Canada's McIntosh, winner of three gold medals at the Paris Olympics and four titles at last year's World Championships in Singapore, opened her night by cruising to victory in the 200m individual medley in 2min 08.48sec.

From Barron's

On day four the 200m individual medley finally gave me an opening.

From BBC