FINA World Championships: Flash! Russia Claims World Record in Men’s 800 Freestyle Relay

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, December 16. THE major question in the men's 800 freestyle relay final was not if the world record would fall, but by which country and by how much.

Russia answered that question with a record-shattering time of 6:49.04, breaking the 2009 record of 6:51.05 set by Canada. They were challenged at every turn by the United States, who also dipped under the record with a 6:49.58. This marks the third world record of the meet, the second of the day and the third of 2010. The first world record of the year, interestingly, was the women's 800 freestyle relay.

Record comparative splits:

Canada: Colin Russell (1:43.60), Stefan Hirniak (1:43.41), Brent Hayden (1:41.49), Joel Greenshields (1:42.55)

Russia: Nikita Lobintsev (1:42.10), Danila Izotov (1:42.15), Evgeny Lagunov (1:42.32), Alexander Sukhorukov (1:42.47)

United States: Peter Vanderkaay (1:43.83), Ryan Lochte (1:40.48), Garrett Weber-Gale (1:42.89), Ricky Berens (1:42.38)

France, based on the strength of Yannick Agnel's 1:41.95 leadoff leg (a time that would have won the bronze medal in the 200 freestyle had Agnel made the final), got the bronze with a 6:53.05.

Germany (6:54.12), Australia (6:57.41), China (7:02.14), Czech Republic (7:04.42) and Brazil (7:06.19) also competed in the fast field.

Race results

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