Olympic Preview: Women’s 400 Medley Relay

By John Lohn

CRANBURY, New Jersey, April 15. THE second half of SwimmingWorldMagazine.com's Olympic Preview Series, which will lead into this summer's Beijing Games, gets started with the first look at a relay event. With lineups hardly set for relay action, this preview of the women's 400 medley relay will take into consideration the likely and potential athletes for a variety of contending nations.

Historical Perspective

Defending Champion: Australia (Giaan Rooney, Leisel Jones, Petria Thomas, Jodie Henry) – 3:57.32.
World Record: Australia (Emily Seebohm, Leisel Jones, Jessicah Schipper, Libby Lenton) – 3:55.74.
Most Titles: United States (Eight) – 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1984, 1992, 1996, 2000.
Notable: When Australia captured the gold medal in Athens in 2004, it ended a stranglehold on the top spot by the United States and East Germany. Before the Aussie women prevailed, the United States and East Germany had accounted for all 11 Olympic titles in the event.

Here's a look at the leading contenders this summer in Beijing.

Australia:
The ladies from Down Under will be the favorite in China, thanks to a probable lineup without a weakness. On the backstroke leg, teenager Emily Seebohm (59.59) has established herself as one of the best in the world and a medal contender on an individual basis. Following Seebohm should be Leisel Jones, the world-record holder in the 100 breaststroke whose fastest time (1:05.09) is nearly a second clear of history's second-fastest performer.

The Australian contingent doesn't drop off at all with Jessicah Schipper likely to handle the butterfly leg. The world-record holder in the 200 butterfly, Schipper is one of the premier 100 flyers on the planet, with a best time this year of 57.31. As for the anchor, Libby Trickett is as good as it gets. At the Aussie Olympic Trials, Trickett set a world record of 52.88.

If the Aussie women all click, a world record is a given, a time under 3:53 not out of the question. The only real change that could surface would be Lenton taking the butterfly leg and Cate Campbell taking the anchor. Still, that possibility isn't likely.

United States:
While the Australian lineup is predictable, the same cannot be said for the squad that will represent the Red, White and Blue. There are just too many scenarios that could unfold at the Olympic Trials in Omaha this summer. So we'll do our best to sort through the possibilities for Beijing.

The backstroke leg is the domain of Natalie Coughlin, the world-record holder in the 100 back. But Coughlin's versatility could make her an option for the butterfly or freestyle legs, particularly if Hayley McGregory, who has broken a minute in the 100 back, continue to progress. Obviously, Coughlin will be used where she can be of the biggest advantage.

The race for the breaststroke leg is wide open, the fight probably boiling down to Megan Jendrick, Tara Kirk, Jessica Hardy and Rebecca Soni. Jendrick has been on a gold-medal winning medley relay, as she starred at the 2000 Games in Sydney, where she also won gold in the 100 breast. As for the butterfly leg, the top looks go to Rachel Komisarz and Dana Vollmer, provided Coughlin is on the backstroke.

For the freestyle leg, the options will include the likes of Kara Lynn Joyce, Katie Hoff, Dara Torres, the ageless wonder, Amanda Weir and Lacey Nymeyer. Basically, stay tuned, for this event won't shape up for a few more months.

Great Britain:
The recent British Trials featured a number of stellar performances, to the point that expectations have skyrocketed heading into Beijing. For now, Gemma Spofforth seems to be the top backstroke prospect, thanks to her 59.89 clocking. The breaststroke, meanwhile, will probably be managed by Kate Haywood, who has been 1:07.56.

On the butterfly leg, Great Britain is probably looking at Jemma Lowe, a qualifier for Beijing in the 100 and 200 fly events. Lowe has been 57.78 for the 100 fly and should make the exchange for the freestyle anchor with either rising teen standout Francesa Halsall or Caitlin McClatchey, who was 54.31 at her Olympic Trials.

Russia:
The Russian squad undoubtedly has a strong front half of the medley relay. Backstroker Anastasia Zueva has been 59.41 and will be in the fight for a medal individually. She'll be followed by teenager Yuliya Efimova, improving rapidly on the international scene. Natalia Sutiagina is a top-ranked Russian butterflyer, but there doesn't seem to be a hammer for the freestyle anchor.

France:
With Laure Manaudou a sub-minute backstroker, the French are in good shape off the start. More, Aurore Mongel (fly) and Alena Popchanka (freestyle) are solid legs. The weak point for France is the breaststroke. The likely performer is Anne-Sophie Le Paranthoen, but she simply doesn't compare on an international basis with the top guns.

Japan:
The picture for the Japanese will become clearer this week, as their Olympic Trials will be held. For now, it's worth noting that Reiko Nakamura is a solid leadoff leg on backstroke and Yuka Kato is this year's top-ranked butterflyer from Japan. Who will step up in the breaststroke and freestyle is a question.

Canada:
The Canadians should work their way into the championship final. Erica Morningstar is a standout for the freestyle anchor and Annamay Pierse continues to develop I the breaststroke. If Julia Wilkinson can slice some time in the backstroke and Audrey Lacroix can deliver in the fly, there's no reason Canada can't put forth a quality showing.

China:
The bronze medalist at last year's World Championships, China figures to have a solid relay. After all, the Chinese typically put together strong relays. As for who will race for the host nation, well that's not easy to answer. Among the possibilities are Qi Hui on breaststroke, Pang Jiaying on freestyle, Xu Yanwei for butterfly and Zhao Jin, whose been under a minute, on the backstroke.

Natalie Coughlin

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