Swimming World Presents “Faster Than Ever: The Men of USA’s 100 Free and 400 Free Relay”

Swimming World October 2019 Faster Than Ever Mens 100 Free and 400 Free Relay

Faster Than Ever:
The Men of USA’s 100 Free and 400 Free Relay

By David Rieder

For most of the 21st century, the American men have struggled to maintain hold of the 400 meter freestyle relay. Almost every time they did finish atop the podium at a major meet, it required some heroics. But heading into the 2020 Olympics, a young American sprint corps has turned the United States into heavy gold-medal favorites in both the 100 free and 400 free relay. Now, the real contest will come at Olympic Trials, where Olympic hopefuls must get through a cutthroat gauntlet of speed in order to earn their spots for Tokyo.

At Olympic Trials in 2020, the top six swimmers in the 100 free will earn spots at the Tokyo Olympics to compete as part of the now-heavily favored American 400 free relay. And it will be fast. While in 2016, it took just 49.55 to qualify for semifinals and 49.18 to make the final, expect a cutoff somewhere in the 48-mid range just to make semis. To make the Trials final, it will likely take a time in the very low 48s, possibly even under 48.

Some really good swimmers with really impressive credentials will be left out of the mix. Whoever the top eight turn out to be, it will only require beating two others to secure a trip to Tokyo, so perhaps the final ends up being slower than the semifinal, but that semifinal will be vicious. With perhaps one exception, every swimmer in the semis will have to give 100 percent just to earn a shot to race for Olympic qualification.

The Contenders

1. Caeleb Dressel (2019 best: 46.96; world rank: 1)

2. Ryan Held (2019 best: 47.39; world rank: 3)

3. Maxime Rooney (2019 best: 47.61; world rank: 5)

4. Zach Apple (2019 best: 47.79; world rank: 7)

5. Blake Pieroni (2019 best: 47.87; world rank: 8)

6. Tate Jackson (2019 best: 47.88; world rank: 10)

7. Dean Farris (2019 best: 48.07; world rank: 13)

8. Nathan Adrian (2019 best: 48.17; world rank: 18)

9. Robert Howard (2019 best: 48.37; world rank: 26)

10. Jack Conger (2019 best: 48.47; world rank: 29)

11. Daniel Krueger (2019 best: 48.55; world rank: 39)

12. Townley Haas (2019 best: 48.60; world rank: 44)

13. Michael Chadwick (2019 best: 48.70; world rank: 46)

To read more about each of the fastest US contenders headed to Trials,
check out the October issue of Swimming World, out now!

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FEATURES

024 MYSTERIES OF OUR MUSEUM: A MYSTERIOUS MEDAL
by Bruce Wigo
A beautiful bronze medal commemorating a Japan-USA-Denmark International Swimming Meet led to the story of the best all-around woman swimmer from the early 1950s who also became one of the best Masters swimmers ever: Gail Peters Roper.

026 TAKEOFF TO TOKYO: DAWN OF GREATNESS
by John Lohn
When the 2020 Olympic Games open next July, there will be no round-number anniversary of what Australian Dawn Fraser accomplished 56 years earlier in 1964. Rather, it is the site of the Olympiad that resonates. As Tokyo prepares to host the world’s finest athletes, it also serves as the place where Fraser became the first swimmer ever to win Olympic gold in the same event at three consecutive Games—a feat that, even now, is wildly difficult to comprehend.

030 IT’S TIME FOR SOME RESPECT
by John Lohn
For someone to boast four World titles and seven individual medals from the World Championships, the instant assumption is that he stands out as one of the biggest names in the sport. Sure, Japan’s Daiya Seto is respected by his rivals and generally around the pool, but his exploits are greater than the recognition that has been given.

034 FASTER THAN EVER
by David Rieder
Heading into the 2020 Olympics, a young American sprint corps has turned the United States into heavy gold-medal favorites in both the 100 free and 400 free relay. However, the real contest will come at the U.S. Trials, where Olympic hopefuls must get through a cutthroat gauntlet of speed in order to earn their spots for Tokyo.

038 THE NEW “KIDS” ON THE BLOCK
by Craig Lord
This month marks the beginning of a new era in swimming with the unveiling of the International Swimming League, featuring a new and dynamic format of swimming that includes a global Pro-Team tour with some of the world’s greatest swimmers in action.

COACHING

010 LESSONS WITH THE LEGENDS: KAREN MOE HUMPHREYS
by Michael J. Stott

014 SWIMMING TECHNIQUE CONCEPTS: SHOULDER INJURY PREVENTION FOR THE FREESTYLE ARM ENTRY
by Rod Havriluk
Every team’s injury management plan should include strategies to address the freestyle arm entry and prevent shoulder injury. Major benefits also include increasing the index of coordination and, thereby, increasing swimming velocity.

016 A CASE FOR HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMING: ALL FOR ONE, ONE FOR ALL
by Michael J. Stott
The verdict is unanimous: high school swimming adds immeasurable value to the career and experience of a young athlete.

051 Q&A WITH COACH TERRY JONES
by Michael J. Stott

052 HOW THEY TRAIN KAITLYNN SIMS AND LILLIE NORDMANN
by Michael J. Stott

TRAINING

013 DRYSIDE TRAINING: BUILDING LEAN MUSCLE
by J.R. Rosania

JUNIOR SWIMMER

042 GOLDMINDS: BUILDING A TEAM OF GREAT SWIMMING PARENTS
by Wayne Goldsmith
When given the opportunity to understand the importance of their role and their influence, swimming parents can become the most powerful, positive force in their child’s life.

054 UP & COMERS: KEATON JONES
by Shoshanna Rutemiller

COLUMNS & SPECIAL SECTIONS

008 A VOICE FOR THE SPORT

009 BEYOND THE YARDS

018 DID YOU KNOW? MARTHA NORELIUS

019 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

044 PREP SCHOOL DIRECTORY

055 GUTTERTALK

056 PARTING SHOT

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Jeff Shore

4 years ago

Robert Kannegieser… I never thought I would see a sub 47… and there MIGHT be three, maybe 4… This is going to be a fun one to watch!!