{"id":265705,"date":"2017-07-12T15:00:25","date_gmt":"2017-07-12T22:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=265705"},"modified":"2017-07-12T15:43:09","modified_gmt":"2017-07-12T22:43:09","slug":"fina-world-championships-predictions-mens-800-free","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/fina-world-championships-predictions-mens-800-free\/","title":{"rendered":"FINA World Championships Predictions: Men’s 800 Free"},"content":{"rendered":"

The men’s 800 free will be contested at the FINA World Championships for a ninth time in Budapest, but more and more swimmers figure to zero in on this distance over the next several years given its status as a new Olympic event<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Given that the world’s top distance swimmers have not raced in the 800 at a major meet in two years, this one is tough to peg. So take a look at the men who won medals in both the 400 and 1500 in Rio:\u00a0Mack Horton<\/strong>,\u00a0Sun Yang<\/strong>,\u00a0Gabriele Detti<\/strong> and\u00a0Gregorio Paltrinieri<\/strong>. (Connor Jaeger<\/strong>, the Olympic silver medalist in the 1500, is retired.)<\/p>\n

Sun held off Paltrinieri for gold in this event two years ago, with Horton earning the bronze. Detti didn’t even swim the 800 in Kazan in 2015, but he ranks No. 1 in the world for 2017 after winning bronze medals in both the 400 and 1500 in Rio.<\/p>\n

Read below to see what\u00a0Swimming World’s\u00a0<\/em>trio of experts think will happen in\u00a0Budapest.\u00a0David Rieder<\/strong>,\u00a0John Lohn<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Andy Ross<\/strong>\u00a0will each offer their predictions for\u00a0who will finish on the podium.<\/p>\n

Men’s\u00a0800 Free<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Current Records:<\/h3>\n

World Record:<\/strong>\u00a0Zhang Lin, CHN (2009) — 7:32.12
\nChampionship Record:<\/strong> Zhang Lin, CHN (2009) — 7:32.12
\nAmerican Record:<\/strong>\u00a0Michael McBroom (2013) — 7:43.60<\/p>\n

2015 World Champion:<\/strong>\u00a0Sun Yang, CHN — 7:39.96
\n2017 World No. 1:<\/strong> Gabriele Detti, ITA — 7:41.64<\/p>\n

Swimming World Predictions<\/strong><\/h2>\n

David Rieder’s Picks:<\/h3>\n

Gold:<\/strong> Gabriele Detti, ITA
\nSilver<\/strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0Mack Horton, AUS
\nBronze:<\/strong>\u00a0Sun Yang, CHN<\/p>\n

John Lohn’s Picks:<\/h3>\n

Gold:<\/strong> Sun Yang, CHN
\nSilver<\/strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0Gregorio Paltrinieri, ITA
\nBronze:<\/strong> Gabriele Detti, ITA<\/p>\n

Andy Ross’ Picks:<\/h3>\n

Gold<\/strong>:<\/strong> Gabriele Detti, ITA
\nSilver:<\/strong> Gregorio Paltrinieri, ITA
\nBronze:<\/strong> Mack Horton, AUS<\/p>\n

Previous\u00a0Events<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Day One:<\/h3>\n