France upset Americans in freestyle relay stunner

Yannick Agnel stormed home to touch out Ryan Lochte and give France victory over the United States in the men's 4x100m freestyle relay at the Olympics for the first time here Sunday. Agnel came with a powerful finish to nab Lochte on the wall giving the French a memorable win in the super-charged atmosphere of the Aquatics Centre. It was only the formidable Americans' third defeat in the event following Australia's win in Sydney in 2000 and South Africa in Athens eight years ago. France avenged their heartbreaking 0.08secs defeat to the Americans in the relay final in Beijing. "What happened four years ago, that was really tough. This is an extraordinary revenge," French team member Fabien Gilot said. "There is the sense of accomplishment. We have been rewarded for all the years when we missed out and were given nothing. We have won one of the finest medals and it is one which can never be taken away." Russia finished third leaving the mighty Australian team spearheaded by world champion James Magnussen stranded without a medal. "I did my utmost and tried to hold on until Lochte cracked," Agnel said of his last leg heroics. The French team of Amaury Leveaux, Gilot, Clement Lefert and Agnel clocked 3:09.93, while the US team of Nathan Adrian, Michael Phelps, Cullen Jones and Lochte were second in 3:10.38. It was 14-time Olympic champion Michael Phelps's first silver medal at four Olympics. "That felt great, I did a lot better (with a 47.15sec swim) than I did yesterday," said Phelps, who struggled home for fourth behind teammate Lochte in Saturday's 400m medley final. "I was happy to put yesterday behind me and hopefully we can move forward from here and keep heading in the right direction." Russia's Andrey Grechin, Nikita Lobintsev, Vladimir Morozov and Danila Izotov were third in 3:11.41. Australia led off with Magnussen, the fastest man in the world this year at the distance, but were behind after his opening leg. "I did a 47.3 this morning and it was the easiest swim I have done in months," Magnussen said. "I don't know, I just couldn't back up tonight maybe, it just took a bit out of the tank this morning." Matt Targett, former world record-holder Eamon Sullivan and the year's second-fastest James Roberts couldn't respond as deflated Australia were left on the outside looking in for fourth in 3:11.63. "That is not the way we envisioned it all, we thought we had prepared for everything, but I don't think anyone predicted this at all," a despondent Targett said. "We could have all done better, I don't know how much better, but we will have to look at what happened."