By John Lohn
BEIJING, China, August 10. NOT that the record is going to last past the morning, but the United States took down the world record during the preliminaries of the 400 freestyle relay. The quartet of Nathan Adrian, Cullen Jones, Ben Wildman-Tobriner and Matt Grevers clocked 3:12.23 to better the former world mark of 3:12.46, set by the United States in 2006.
Adrian got the Americans started with a split of 48.82, with Jones (47.61), Wildman-Tobriner (48.03) and Grevers (47.77) finishing off the race. By the end of the championship final, the record could be more than two seconds faster, such is the state of sprinting in the world today. Jones is likely to retain his spot on the relay, where he'll be joined by Michael Phelps, Garrett Weber-Gale and Jason Lezak.
France and Australia also went under the previous world record in the event, with the French going 3:12.36 and using only two of their big guns – Amaury Leveaux and Fred Bousquet. As for the Australians, they checked in at 3:12.41 without the services of Eamon Sullivan. Matt Targett was the big performer for the Aussies, splitting 47.22.
Italy took fourth in 3:12.65 and Sweden also cracked 3:13 as Stefan Nystrand led off a team that touched the wall in 3:12.73. Defending champion South Africa, using the same quartet that won gold in Athens, was sixth in 3:13.06. The South Africans were likely holding back and should cut big time tomorrow. Also in the championship field are Canada (3:13.68) and Great Britain (3:13.69).
Results: 2008 Olympic Games - Swimming
Reaction Time Comments
August 10, 2008 Wow this is going to be a GREAT final! Submitted by: Hodori88
August 10, 2008 I'm wondering if the big guns that swam in prelims (Leveaux, Bousquet, TOWNSEND!) will swim any faster tonight, partially due to how much faster they've gotten, plus morning finals. Phelps is just cruising in his races right now, so I will not count out the possibility of a WORLD RECORD in the 100 Free tonight after that 400 IM. It could happen. Current list of guys who have been 47: Bernard, Sullivan, Lezak, Weber-Gale, Leveaux, VDH, Cielo, Nystrand, Phelps. When you have to go 3:13 to get into finals, it's just sick. Submitted by: SwimDER94
August 10, 2008 The U.S. didn't have their fastest three swimmers in the prelims and got 1st. The french didn't have their fastest 2 swimmers and got second, and the aussies had all the same guys except for eamon. I really think the U.S. has this now with winning in prelims even with Adrian's 48.8. This final is going to be AMAZING Submitted by: WUswimmer
August 10, 2008 grevers splits 47.77 and probably won't swim the final. to us SwimDER94 phrase "it's just sick"!.
bousquet was out in 21.7!! how ridiculous is that! and he doesn't even get a shot at the individual 50. cielo looked good for about 85m though. hope he can hang on the last 15 in the individual. Submitted by: medina
August 10, 2008 GOO 21.7 to the feet! omg that is out of control ridiculous Submitted by: WUswimmer
August 10, 2008 WUswimmer: Australia also didn't have Ashley Callus in the prelim. Submitted by: justink
August 10, 2008 Anybody else think that the finals are going to be the greatest 400 free relay field in history? Submitted by: Ako
August 10, 2008 O yeah good call. I think the biggest different as well will be the french replacing that 49.8 with Gilot possibly a 47 mid. The americans are in a bit of trouble now that i think about it enless Lezak can throw down a 46 plus. Submitted by: WUswimmer
August 10, 2008 Yeah i have the French winning now that i threw down the times on paper. I have Leveaux leading off in a 47.76 like in prelims, Gilot going 47.47, Bernard going third with a 46.91 and Bousquet anchoring in 46.63 and going 3:08.77. The U.S. I have Phelps leading off in 47.43 breaking the WR, GWG going second in 47.03, Jones going his same prelim swim with a 47.61 and Lezak anchoring in 46.90. This gives the U.S. a 3:09.05. Both teams are under the previous WR in the prelims by over 3 fully seconds and the French win by only .28 of a second. Phelps' run at 8 gold will end with that enless Cullen can split faster, GWG can dip under 47 like I have Lezak going and Phelps can lead off in an almost sub 47 performance. Its going to be amazing. Submitted by: WUswimmer
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