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.

---

Etymology

Origin of individual medley

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

individual medley

GB's Amalie Smith picked up a silver medal in the 400m individual medley final, finishing 0.7secs behind Ireland's Ellen Walshe, with Poland's Justina Kozan claiming bronze.

From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026

The frenzied scenes around this clammy building eventually abated, only for Faye Rogers to spark more bedlam with a rampant gold in the 200m individual medley SM10.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

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.

From Barron's ● Oct. 11, 2025

McIntosh won the 200-meter individual medley in 2 minutes, 5.7 seconds.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2025

But they did not have it all their own way on the night, as 17-year-old Yumeki Kojima won the 400m individual medley in an Asian Games record time of 4min 07.02sec for a Japan one-two.

From Barron's