5 fastest men's swimming 4x100m freestyle relays of all time ft. Team USA at Beijing Olympics

The men's 4x100m freestyle relay has produced some of the most electrifying and unforgettable races in swimming history, including at the Olympic stage. The event showcases the speed, endurance and teamwork of the world's best swimming teams.

From record-breaking performances to nail-biting finishes, the event has consistently captivated the fans' attention. Let's dive into the top five men's 4x100m freestyle relays of all time.

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Five fastest men's 4x100m freestyle relays ft. USA at Beijing Olympics

#5 Team South Africa at the 2004 Athens Olympics

The South African squad recorded the fifth-fastest time in the men's 4x100m freestyle relay at the 2004 Athens Olympics. The South African team including Roland Schoeman, Lyndon Ferns, Darian Townsend and Ryk Neethling clocked an impressive 3:13.17s to defeat the Dutch squad.

Team South Africa stand on the podium during the men's swimming 4x100m freestyle relay medal event during the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece - Getty Images

While the Dutch squad posted 3:14.36s to set a new national record, the American squad followed in third place with 3:14.62s. Pieter van den Hoogenband of the Dutch squad recorded the fastest lap among the three teams in 46.79 seconds.

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#4 Team USA at the 2006 Pan Pacific Championships

The American team holds the top four fastest times in the men's 4x100m freestyle relay event. The USA squad comprising Michael Phelps, Neil Walker, Cullen Jones and Jason Lezak recorded the fourth-fastest men's 4x100m freestyle relay in 3:12.46s.

The team achieved this feat on August 19 at the 2006 Pan Pacific Championships held in Victoria, Canada. While Phelps swam the first lap in 48.83s, Jason Lezak anchored the team to victory with 47.78s in the last lap.

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#3 Team USA in the heats at the 2008 Beijing Olympics

The American team that competed in the heats of the men's 4x100m freestyle relay event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics clocked a spectacular 3:12.23s to earn a spot in the finals. The Heat's team included Nathan Adrian, Cullen Jones, Ben Wildman-Tobriner and Matt Grevers. They earned the lead with a narrow margin over the French squad's 3:12.36s.

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#2 Team USA in the Tokyo 2020 finals

The American squad at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics recorded the second-fastest time in the 4x100m freestyle relay.

Team USA pose with their gold medals for the men's 4x100m freestyle relay at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan - Getty Images

Zach Apple, Blake Pieroni, Bowen Becker and Caeleb Dressel recorded a stunning time of 3:08.97s to dominate the event after defeating the Italian and the Australian squads who recorded 3:10.11 and 3:10.22, respectively.

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#1 Team USA in the final at the 2008 Beijing Olympics

The USA team in the 2008 Beijing Olympics finals displayed one of the greatest moments in swimming by recording the fastest men's 4x100m freestyle relay of all time.

Team USA's Michael Phelps competes in the men's 4x100m freestyle relay at the 2008 Beijing Olympics - Getty Images

The team including Michael Phelps, Garrett Weber-Gale, Cullen Jones and Jason Lezak, clocked a whopping 3:08.24s, a substantial drop from the time set by the American team in the heats round.

They achieved this feat after gaining a narrow lead of 0.8 seconds over the French team. Lezak registered the fastest lap in the finals with a time of 46.06 seconds.