[2] In October 2013 FINA decided to establish "standards" before something can be recognized as the first world record in these events.
[3] But later on March 13, 2014 FINA has officially ratified the eight world records set by Indiana University swimmers at the IU Relay Rally held on September 26, 2013 in Bloomington.
The men's 4×100-metre freestyle is often considered "swimming’s indisputably best event at the Olympics",[5] as "It is also the Alpha Dog moment in water.
Nathan Adrian was quoted as saying “Every American swimmer dreams of getting up there in the 4x100 free relay and winning a gold medal.”[6] The Australians won the event at the 2000 Summer Olympics which they hosted and celebrated by playing air guitar, while the Australian relay team was dubbed "Weapons of Mass Destruction" after winning in the 2011 World Aquatics Championships.
At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Frenchman Alain Bernard famously said he would "smash the Americans"[citation needed]; while the French team did beat the previous world record, they did it 0:00.08 after Jason Lezak had already edged out Bernard in the anchor leg, giving the Americans the gold and a new world record, which is still standing today.