United States Draws DQ In Men’s 4×100 Free Relay For Wrong Order; Brazil Elevated To Gold

Photo Courtesy: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

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It was originally reported that the United States won the gold medal in men’s 4×100 free relay on the third night at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Tokyo. After the race however, there were rumors that the United States would be disqualified for swimming Zach Apple and Blake Pieroni in the wrong order.

The disqualification was confirmed on the official results report.

Pieroni was listed to go second on the start list but swam the third leg after Apple went second. The commentator on the Olympic Channel pointed this out when he said Pieroni was in the water when it was clearly Apple swimming.

This will elevate Brazil to the gold medal, Australia to silver and Japan to bronze.

The United States will also lose their meet record they set and the 2010 team will live to survive through 2022.

2018 World Rankings:

Brazil, 3:12.02
Russia, 3:12.23
Australia, 3:12.53
Japan, 3:12.54
Italy, 3:12.90
Poland, 3:14.20
Canada, 3:14.50
Hungary, 3:14.51

Photo Courtesy:

Preliminary report: USA men DQ’d due to wrong order. #2018PanPacs

— Rowdy Gaines (@RowdyGaines) August 11, 2018

BREAKING….USA DQ confirmed in men’s 4x100m freestyle relay with Brazil elevated to their first gold, Australia silver and Japan bronze #PanPacs2018

— Australian Swim Team (@DolphinsAUS) August 11, 2018

UPDATED results:
? ?? 3:12.02
? ?? 3:12.53
? ?? 3:12.54

?? disqualified for swimming out of order https://t.co/auKG1e0uQv

— USA Swimming Live (@USASwimLive) August 11, 2018

ORIGINAL REPORT

The American men had some serious pressure in the 4×100 free relay final to close off night three at the 2018 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Tokyo. Caeleb Dressel (48.76), Zach Apple (47.92) and Blake Pieroni (47.72) set Nathan Adrian (47.27) up to bring it home but it was not easy.

Japan and Brazil were tough through 300 meters, but neither team had the depth to match the Americans as the United States has now had the fastest 4×100 free relay in the world for the third straight year. The Americans won the gold in Tokyo with a 3:11.67. The time is also a new meet record, breaking the 3:11.74 record from 2010.

They won the gold at the 2016 Olympics and 2017 World Championships, and would have won the European Championships with their time. Barring what happens at the Asian Games next week, the US will be number one in the world rankings at the end of the year.

Brazil won the silver with a 3:12.02 and Australia won the bronze with a 3:12.53, just ahead of Japan at 3:12.54. Brazil had a great anchor leg from Pedro Spajari who came home in a blistering 46.94, but it was not enough to catch Adrian. Gabriel Santos (48.93), Marcelo Chierighini (47.62), Antonio Ferreira (48.53) and Spajari won the silver medal for Brazil, who have had a good meet thus far in Japan.

Australia won the bronze medal with Jack Cartwright (48.56), Alexander Graham (48.50), James Roberts (47.97) and Kyle Chalmers (47.50). They just out-touched Japan, who broke their own National Record that was a 3:13.65 from the 2017 Worlds. Katsumi Nakamura (48.52), Shinri Shioura (48.19), Katsuhiro Matsumoto (47.61) and Juran Mizohata (48.22) were actually in the lead through 300 but did not have a 47 anchor left in them to stay on the podium.

Canada (3:14.50) and the Philippines (3:37.01) also competed in the final.

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Brett Davies

5 years ago

They then got disqualified for swimming in the wrong order.
The Americans seem to be making a big mess of this meet.

Swimming World

5 years ago

Reply to Brett Davies

Do you think Team USA is just having a bad meet or are other countries improving as athletes/organizations?

Brett Davies

5 years ago

Reply to Brett Davies

Swimming World I Think that its a bit of both but Team U.S.A seems to be swimming below their best

Jacob Allen

5 years ago

Reply to Brett Davies

Look at the Pan Pacs records. They’re relatively slow because Worlds and the Olympics are the focus. People always talk that Team USA is doing bad or the rest of the world will overtake them but then 2016 happens and everyone stops talking. And how could you say leading the medal table is a bad meet

Brett Davies

5 years ago

Reply to Brett Davies

Jacob Allen They have lost most of the relays there percentage of winning is less than in the last Pan Pacs. And apart from Kalisz and Murphy everyone is swimming way slower than there best times.
Plus this mess up with the relay DQ

Brett Davies

5 years ago

Reply to Brett Davies

Jacob Allen Most of the Americans are swimming way slower than their seasons best as well.

Ann M Cooper

5 years ago

Yay Nathan!?

Catherine Johnson

5 years ago

Except for the DQ

Leander

5 years ago

and Coach of the year award at the slightly tarnished Golden Goggles go to …not Ray Loozerrrrrrrr

Timmy

5 years ago

Reply to Leander

Part of the USA Swimming Tokyo jet lag-sleep deprivation program slipping into the coaching ranks?

Caitlin Garrison

5 years ago

IndyStar is reporting: “An error by the U.S. men’s staff cost two Indiana University swimmers a gold medal Saturday.” Going to be a long trip back to the US.

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5 years ago

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Yasmeen Naseer

5 years ago

Before getting DQ’d!!

Nancy

5 years ago

I felt so sad and heartbroken for Nathan Adrian after a DQ by the US men’s 4×100 free relay screw up.

Shelley

5 years ago

The Olympic Channel announcer was not very good. He referred to Ryan Murphy as Caleb Dressel for the entire Back portion of the Medley. Perhaps NBC will get it right on tape delay airing.

Kurt M. Vander Bogart

5 years ago

Reply to Shelley

He was using the Free Relay lineup, instead of the Medley. The only correct name was Nathan’s! Of course he swam the anchor in both.

Deborah Jo Burnham

5 years ago

Reply to Shelley

Did you hear how he butchered Kalisz…. who is he? He also ruined the Italian swim for me…. I finally turned it on mute. How do we protest this inept announcer?