SYDNEY, Australia, January 29. FINISHING a training trip in Australia, American ace Natalie Coughlin declared what many in the sport also believe to be the case at March's World Championships in Melbourne. It's going to take a world record to win the women's 400 freestyle relay. The United States, Australia and Germany expect to have an epic battle.
"I think it is going to take a world record to win," said Coughlin, in a piece in the Daily Telegraph. "Our relays are the best they have ever been. It's going to be a very close and we may even see three teams break the world record. It's exciting because it pushes me to be better. Every relay I swim I somehow go faster than in my individual events."
The United States' relay squad will be highlighted by Coughlin and Amanda Weir while the Aussies will turn to Libby Lenton and Jodie Henry as their hammers. The Germans, meanwhile, have 100 free world-record holder Britta Steffen in the arsenal.