The Americans went on to edge Australia for gold in the 4x100-metre medley relay, the final event of the world swimming championships.

Nicholas Thoman, Mark Gangloff, Phelps and anchor Nathan Adrian finished in 3 minutes, 32.06 seconds. Australia, with Hayden Stoeckel, Brenton Rickard, Geoff Huegill and James Magnussen, took the silver in 3:32.26.

Germany (Helge Meeuw, Hendrik Feldwehr, Benjamin Starke and Paul Biedermann) won the bronze in a time of 3:32.60.