individual medley

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of individual medley¹

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

Yu, who turned 13 in October, swam an impressive 2:07:41 to claim gold in the women's 200 metre individual medley on Tuesday.

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Corbeau, who also won the 100m breaststroke, led by almost a second at the 100m mark and hung on as Marchand -- winner of four gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics and two individual medley golds at the World Championships in Singapore this year -- closed the gap.

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Shaine Casas clocked an American record of 1min 49.43sec to pip French superstar Leon Marchand for victory in the men's 200m individual medley.

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He opted out of the 100m individual medley on Friday and went for the 400m freestyle.

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Guo Jincheng of China competes in the men's 200m individual medley SM5 final at the World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore.

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