{"id":266018,"date":"2017-07-16T15:00:56","date_gmt":"2017-07-16T22:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=266018"},"modified":"2017-07-16T15:59:19","modified_gmt":"2017-07-16T22:59:19","slug":"fina-world-championships-predictions-mens-800-free-relay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/fina-world-championships-predictions-mens-800-free-relay\/","title":{"rendered":"FINA World Championships Predictions: Men’s 800 Free Relay"},"content":{"rendered":"

For more than a decade, the Americans went undefeated in the men’s 800 free relay. That streak began with an upset win over\u00a0Ian Thorpe<\/strong> and Australia at the 2004 Olympic Games and ran until 2015, when an upstart British team took the win at the FINA World Championships.<\/p>\n

The U.S. would win gold one year later in Rio, but gone from that team are\u00a0Michael Phelps<\/strong> and\u00a0Ryan Lochte<\/strong>. Lochte had been on every single U.S. 800 free relay going back to the start of the winning streak in 2004.<\/p>\n

And this British team is good, really good. Led by 2015 200 free World Champ\u00a0James Guy<\/strong> and 100 free Olympic finalist\u00a0Duncan Scott<\/strong>. Adding up the top four 200 free times from British Nationals<\/a> (Guy, Scott,\u00a0Calum Jarvis<\/strong> and\u00a0Nicholas Grainger<\/strong>) comes out to an aggregate time of 7:05.65.<\/p>\n

The top four American times\u00a0(Townley Haas<\/strong>,\u00a0Blake Pieroni<\/strong>,\u00a0Zane Grothe<\/strong> and\u00a0Conor Dwyer<\/strong>) come out to just a bit quicker (7:04.97), but neither Pieroni nor Grothe has ever swum in a major relay final.<\/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 800 Free Relay<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Current Records:<\/h3>\n

World Record:<\/strong>\u00a0United States — Phelps, Berens, Walters, Lochte (2009) — 6:58.55
\nChampionship Record:<\/strong>\u00a0United States —\u00a0Phelps, Berens, Walters, Lochte (2009) — 6:58.55
\nAmerican Record:<\/strong> Phelps, Berens, Walters, Lochte (2009) — 6:58.55<\/p>\n

2015 World Champion:<\/strong>\u00a0Great Britain — Wallace, Renwick, Jarvis, Guy — 7:04.33
\n2016 Olympic Gold Medalist:<\/strong>\u00a0United States — Dwyer, Haas, Lochte, Phelps — 7:00.66<\/p>\n

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

David Rieder’s Picks:<\/h3>\n

Gold:<\/strong>\u00a0United States
\nSilver<\/strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0Great Britain
\nBronze:<\/strong>\u00a0Australia<\/p>\n

John Lohn’s Picks:<\/h3>\n

Gold:<\/strong>\u00a0United States
\nSilver<\/strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0Great Britain
\nBronze:<\/strong>\u00a0Japan<\/p>\n

Andy Ross’ Picks:<\/h3>\n

Gold:<\/strong>\u00a0United States
\nSilver<\/strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0Great Britain
\nBronze:<\/strong>\u00a0China<\/p>\n

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

Day One:<\/h3>\n