USC graduate Leah Neale has won an Olympic bronze medal as part of the Australian 4x200m freestyle relay team in Tokyo.

Leah, 25, who graduated with a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science last year, was a long-term member of the USC Spartans swimming squad before moving recently to the Chandler Swimming Club in Brisbane.

She swam the anchor leg of the relay in which all three placegetters broke the previous world record of 7:41.50. The Australians finished in 7:41.29, behind first-placed China (7:40.33) and the Unites States (7:40.73).

Leah was a USC Spartan when she won silver in the same event at the Rio Olympics in 2016, when the Australian team finished in a time of 7:44.87.

Earlier this week, USC Spartan Kaylee McKeown set a new Olympic record on her way to winning the 100m backstroke in a time of 57.47 seconds. Kaylee will return to the pool again tonight for the heats of the 200m backstroke.

Six athletes associated with USC are competing in the Tokyo Games.

Results for USC athletes to date are:

• Kaylee McKeown – gold medal in the 100m backstroke, setting a new Olympic record of 57.47 seconds.
• Leah Neale – bronze medal in the 4x200m freestyle relay.
• Kaia Parnaby – pitched for the Australian softball team, which finished fifth of six teams.

Events involving USC athletes in the days ahead:

Thursday 29 July (evening)

• Kaylee McKeown in the women’s 200m backstroke heats from 9.08pm. Link here.

Friday 30 July

• MAYBE: Kaylee McKeown in women’s 200m backstroke semi-finals from 12.35pm. Link here.

Saturday 31 July

• MAYBE: Kaylee McKeown in women’s 200m backstroke final 11.37pm. Link here

— Terry Walsh