Editorial content for the 2023 World Aquatics Championships is sponsored by FINIS, a longtime partner of Swimming World and leading innovator of suits, goggles and equipment. World Championships: Gretchen Walsh Inserted to U.S. Women’s Medley Relay for Fly (Full Medley Relay Lineups) The United States women’s team has gone with a surprise lineup choice in the final event of the World Championships. A co-favorite with Australia in the women’s 400 medley relay, the Americans have picked Gretchen Walsh for the butterfly leg instead of 100 fly bronze medalist Torri Huske. Huske struggled on the mixed 400 medley relay and split 57.42 in prelims, well off her top form, so Walsh, the eighth-place swimmer in the 100 fly and bronze medalist in the 50 fly, will take the leg instead. Walsh will join 100 backstroke silver medalist Regan Smith, 100 breaststroke fourth-place finisher Lilly King and 100 freestyle fourth-place finisher Kate Douglass. King gets the nod over bronze medalist Lydia Jacoby thanks to having the quickest American time of the meet overall and her usual top form on relays. Australia, hoping to complete a sweep of the women’s relays, will have 100 back world champion Kaylee McKeown and 100 free winner Molie O’Callaghan going first and last. In between, veteran Emma McKeon will handle fly but breaststroker Abbey Harkin is a wildcard. Canada inserts Kylie Masse onto the leadoff leg to join Sophie Angus and Maggie Mac Neil while Summer McIntosh is added to anchor. China, a strong candidate for bronze, has Wen Letian, Tang Qianting, 100 fly world champion Zhang Yufei and Cheng Yujie while Sweden sticks with Michelle Coleman, Sophie Hansson, Louise Hansson and Sarah Sjostrom. Don’t count out the Netherlands, with 200 breast bronze medalist Tes Schouten and 100 free bronze medalist Marrit Steenbergen. View the full women’s medley relay lineups here. On the men’s side, the United States goes with four individual medalists from their respective 100-meter events, with 100 back world champion Ryan Murphy leading into Nic Fink, Dare Rose and Jack Alexy. China, considered the top challenger to the Americans, has Xu Jiayu, triple breaststroke winner Qin Haiyang, Wang Changdao and Pan Zhanle on its squad. Don’t count out France, swimming in between the U.S. and China with Yohann Ndoye-Brouard moving into the leadoff spot with Leon Marchand, Maxime Grousset and Hadrien Salvan. Australia has a strong back end with Matt Temple and Kyle Chalmers while out in lane eight, Great Britain anchors with 200 free world champion Matt Richards. Italy, the defending world champions in the race, did not qualify for the final. View the full men’s medley relay lineups here.
