{"id":136282,"date":"2015-06-12T14:15:14","date_gmt":"2015-06-12T21:15:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=136282"},"modified":"2015-07-28T18:10:39","modified_gmt":"2015-07-29T01:10:39","slug":"can-team-usa-dominate-freestyle-relays-at-world-championships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/can-team-usa-dominate-freestyle-relays-at-world-championships\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Team USA Dominate Freestyle Relays At Worlds?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Each week leading up to the start of the swimming competition at the FINA world championships, Swimming World will offer medal predictions for the 42 events set to be contested in Kazan, Russia. <\/i><\/p>\n

Coverage of the World Championships is sponsored by Wylas Timing<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

By Jeff Commings, Swimming World Senior Writer<\/i><\/p>\n

The freestyle relays at any major international swim meet are among the most exciting races to watch. These events are where national pride is on the line the most, while the team camaraderie and the depth each country comes to the forefront. <\/p>\n

The freestyle relays at the 2013 world championships offered a few surprises. The United States managed a mini-upset in the women\u2019s 400 free relay, while France\u2019s come-from-behind victory in the men\u2019s 400 free relay continued that country\u2019s resurgence after the bitter loss at the 2008 Olympics. This year, the global competition isn\u2019t offering many obstacles for the United States, who stand to make history in Kazan this August.<\/p>\n

If Team USA wins all eight relays in Kazan (including the two new mixed relays), it will be the second time a nation has won every swimming relay at the world championships. The USA won all five at the 1978 world championships, where the women only swam the 400 free relay and 400 medley relay. The addition of the 400 mixed free relay and 400 mixed medley relay this year adds a bit of uncertainty regarding the Americans\u2019 history-making attempt, as does the strength of the Australians and a couple other countries who could surprise.<\/p>\n\"Wylas<\/a>\n

Men\u2019s freestyle relays at world championships<\/h3>\n

Men\u2019s 400 free relay<\/h2>\n

The United States hasn\u2019t won this event at a major international meet since the 2010 Pan Pacific championships. Team USA is looking very good for a trip to the top step of the medal podium in Kazan, as Australia\u2019s James Magnussen<\/strong> will be out of the meet repairing his shoulder. Without Magnussen, Australia\u2019s chances of getting a medal are very slim. The Aussies won the 2014 Pan Pacific championship on the strength of Cameron McEvoy\u2019s<\/strong> anchor, but without the key leg that Magnussen could provide, the team has a weak spot.<\/p>\n

France, the 2012 Olympic champion and reigning world champion, will need to pull off another miracle similar to the ones they pulled off in the past two years. The results from the French nationals don\u2019t paint a strong picture for the French, given that no one has posted a time below 48.5 seconds. Mehdy Metella\u2019s<\/strong> improvements at the Golden Tour meet last month gave the French a bit of a boost, but can he help Jeremy Stravius<\/strong> and Fabien Gilot<\/strong> keep up with the Americans? Florent Manaudou<\/strong> could be the fourth swimmer, but he\u2019s been focusing so much on the 50 free that a race twice as long might be daunting for him. The French won the European title last year, and the above foursome could make it four years in a row of major relay international titles.<\/p>\n

With the 400 free relay taking place on the first night of competition, the Russians would love to capture a gold medal in front of a home crowd to kick off the meet. On the back of Vladimir Morozov<\/strong>, it could happen, but the three teammates who will join him will need to get back to the performances they put up to gain silver at last year\u2019s European championships. The team doesn\u2019t look as strong as in years past, but the cheers from the crowd are bound to bring a surge to the Russian swimmers.<\/p>\n

Brazil\u2019s 400 free relay is rapidly improving, and could provide an upset to get on the podium. Brazil was just .23 behind the United States at the Pan Pacs last year, but will need to be faster to get on the podium against a bigger field.<\/p>\n

The big question remains: Who will swim the 400 free relay for the United States? As always, that\u2019s not decided until hours before the final. Nathan Adrian<\/strong> and Jimmy Feigen<\/strong>, the two 100 freestyle representatives, are assured of spots. Anthony Ervin, Matt Grevers<\/strong> and Conor Dwyer<\/strong> will likely race in the prelims to get the remaining spots. Ryan Lochte<\/strong> should be included in the conversation, as he was originally set to swim the 100 free at worlds but gave his spot to Feigen. Ervin has been doing fairly well on the relay, but if Lochte gets the third spot without having to prove himself, the final position might go to Dwyer. He\u2019s been improving in the 100 free, and will need to dig into his 200 free endurance to keep challengers at bay.<\/p>\n

Men\u2019s 400 freestyle relay medal predictions<\/strong>
\nGold:<\/strong> USA
\nSilver:<\/strong> France
\nBronze:<\/strong> Russia
\n

\"Jimmy<\/a>

Photo Courtesy: Joao Marc Bosch<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

Men\u2019s 800 freestyle relay<\/h2>\n

Updated June 30<\/i>
\nThe last time Australia won the 800 free relay at the world championships, Grant Hackett<\/strong> was part of what was then an unstoppable Aussie team in 2003. Twelve years later, Hackett is back on the squad, and he\u2019ll be looking to return to the 800 free relay final for the chance to earn a fourth gold medal in the event and fifth overall.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not out of the realm of possibility that Australian can win the 800 free relay. Hackett will be able to provide a solid leg for the Aussies, but with the talents of McEvoy, David McKeon<\/strong> and Thomas Fraser-Holmes<\/strong> behind him, the chances rise significantly. All four will have to average 1:45 to compete with the Americans, which is a tall order but not an impossible one.<\/p>\n

The United States would appear to have no problem approaching the 7:00 barrier, with Lochte and Dwyer leading the squad. But the remaining two spots might be filled by swimmers not yet accustomed to a major championship meet. Reed Malone, Michael Weiss<\/strong> and Clay Youngquist<\/strong> are all newbies to the long course worlds, which is much more intense than short course worlds. Michael Klueh<\/strong> swam prelims of the 800 free relay in 2013, but wasn’t fast enough for the final. Neither of them have best times faster than 1:47.4, which is only average when racing at world championships. Whomever joins Lochte and Dwyer on the relay must<\/i> contribute something faster than 1:46.00 to keep the competition at bay. If not, it opens the door for Australia, Japan and Great Britain.<\/p>\n

Yes, Great Britain has a medal shot in the 800 free relay. James Guy, Calum Jarvis<\/strong> and Robbie Renwick<\/strong> were exceptional at nationals in April, and if Daniel Wallace<\/strong> or someone else capable of splitting under 1:47 joins them, it could be their first 800 free relay medal at worlds.<\/p>\n

Japan nearly took down the United States in this event at the Pan Pacific championships, but I don\u2019t foresee that happening again in Kazan. Maybe Kosuke Hagino<\/strong> can put up a split to keep them in the game, but the 200 free didn\u2019t seem to be a focus event for the Japanese at their world championship trials. But, as they did at Pan Pacs, they could put up a surprisingly tough foursome in Russia.<\/p>\n

China was third at the 2013 world championships on the strength of a 1:43.1 from Sun Yang<\/strong>. They could sneak in for another medal, but they cannot rely on Sun\u2019s amazing speed to pull them from fifth to third this time. With Yannick Agnel<\/strong> withdrawing from world championships<\/a>, France appears to be out of contention, while the rest of the world shapes up to be well behind the top four.<\/p>\n

Men\u2019s 800 freestyle relay medal predictions<\/h2>\n

Gold:<\/strong> USA
\nSilver:<\/strong> Australia
\nBronze:<\/strong> Japan
\n

\"Cameron<\/a>

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

Women\u2019s freestyle relays at world championships<\/h3>\n

Women\u2019s 400 free relay<\/h2>\n

This shapes up to be more thrilling than the men\u2019s sprint relay. In 2013, Megan Romano<\/strong> overtook Alicia Coutts<\/strong> on the anchor leg to prevent the Aussies from winning. But in the span of a year, Australia made a big leap forward with a world record in the event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games<\/a>. That seemingly puts Australia well at the top of the pack this year at the world championships, and the same foursome could make the rest of the field look like age groupers.<\/p>\n

No matter where you put her in the lineup, Cate Campbell<\/strong> will be the biggest contributor. Put her first, and she\u2019ll give her teammates a fairly insurmountable lead. Put her last, and any doubt about a win will be erased after 75 meters. Along with sister Bronte, Emma McKeon<\/strong> and Melanie Wright (formerly Schlanger)<\/strong> the Aussies can\u2019t be beat.<\/p>\n

The Americans will try their hardest, though. Simone Manuel<\/strong> and Missy Franklin<\/strong> are going to be tough racers. The two ladies who will join her can\u2019t match any of the splits that the Aussies will put forward, so it makes the Americans in a fight for silver. Whether it\u2019s Lia Neal, Abbey Weitzeil, Margo Geer<\/strong> or Shannon Vreeland<\/strong>, the Americans don\u2019t stand a chance.<\/p>\n

The Netherlands were formerly the queens of the 400 free relay, winning the 2008 Olympic and 2009 world titles. The ladies still have plenty of firepower to contend, as evidenced by Femke Heemskerk, Inge Dekker<\/strong> and Ranomi Kromowidjojo<\/strong>. Those three could keep the pace with the Americans, with their fourth swimmer likely to hold pace and give the Dutch a chance for a silver medal. Elise Bouwens<\/strong> has been on the squad the past two years, so look for her to be back in Kazan.<\/p>\n

Women\u2019s 400 free relay medal predictions<\/h2>\n

Gold:<\/strong> Australia
\nSilver:<\/strong> USA
\nBronze:<\/strong> The Netherlands
\n

\"cate-bronte-campbell-pan-pacs-2014<\/a>

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

Women\u2019s 800 free relay<\/h2>\n

Updated as of June 22<\/i>
\nAs strong as the Australians are in the 400 free relay, the Americans are equally untouchable in the 800 free relay. Franklin and Katie Ledecky<\/strong> are likely to go 1-2 in the 200 free at worlds and that combination makes for a dominating force on a relay. Put Ledecky first, and the Americans are in the lead. Put Franklin last, and you have one of the most reliable anchor swimmers in the world. Who joins those two? Vreeland has been a part of the relay since the 2012 Olympics, and might be back in this final. Chelsea Chenault<\/strong> has been right on the brink of a major international relay, and it would be great to see her earn a spot in the championship final. Cierra Runge<\/strong> and Leah Smith<\/strong> have been making big improvements since last summer, so they could also be fighting hard in the prelim race to put up the fastest splits.<\/p>\n

Australia will be fighting for second. The recent news that Brittany Elmslie is withdrawing from the world championship team<\/a>, and the voluntary withdrawal of Kylie Palmer during the investigation of a positive drug test<\/a>, puts the Aussies further behind the unstoppable Americans. McKeon, Bronte Barratt<\/strong> and Schlanger will be three of the four in the final. It’s unclear who will fill the fourth spot, but that woman will need to make up for Australia’s big loss in this event.<\/p>\n

The door is open for Sweden to take the silver medal. With the help of Sarah Sjostrom<\/strong>, the Swedes could find the momentum that could carry them past the Australians to an unprecedented silver medal. France\u2019s freestyle strength hasn\u2019t been up to par in the past two years, so they might not defend their bronze medal from the 2013 world championships. That opens the door for the always-strong China and Germany. Italy won the European title last year, so they could also be in the medal race.<\/p>\n

Women\u2019s 800 freestyle relay medal predictions<\/h2>\n

Gold:<\/strong> USA
\nSilver:<\/strong> Sweden
\nBronze:<\/strong> Australia
\n

\"800<\/a>

Photo Courtesy: Pamela Roberts<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n

Mixed 400 freestyle relay<\/h2>\n

For the first time at a long course world championships, mixed relays will be swum. They\u2019ve been a popular event at the short course worlds, and have been part of the European championships for many years. That would likely give the Europeans the advantage here, but this is a simple squad to fill for the \u201cinexperienced\u201d countries. Put in your two fastest women and two fastest men in the 100 free and — voila!<\/i> — you\u2019ve got your mixed 400 free relay.<\/p>\n

This could be an exciting one (again) between Australia and the United States. On paper, the advantage goes to Australia. Their women are faster than the Americans, while the Australian men are about equal with the Americans. But, the event comes on the seventh day of competition, when most will be running on reserve energy. That will affect the times, but not the racing mindset.<\/p>\n

The major strategy to consider is where to put your women and men in the lineup? Put a male first, and you stay in the lead. Put your men last, and they are swimming in the wake of others. Put your women last, and they might have to fend off a few men. It will make this a thrilling debut, but probably not enough to add it to the Olympic schedule (where it\u2019ll have to stand in line behind 50s of the strokes).<\/p>\n

Mixed 400 freestyle relay medal predictions<\/h2>\n

Gold:<\/strong> Australia
\nSilver:<\/strong> USA
\nBronze:<\/strong> The Netherlands<\/p>\n

Previous world championships predictions:<\/strong>
\nBackstroke<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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