{"id":266601,"date":"2017-07-20T12:00:21","date_gmt":"2017-07-20T19:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=266601"},"modified":"2017-07-20T12:10:01","modified_gmt":"2017-07-20T19:10:01","slug":"fina-world-championships-predictions-womens-400-im","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/fina-world-championships-predictions-womens-400-im\/","title":{"rendered":"FINA World Championships Predictions: Women’s 400 IM"},"content":{"rendered":"

Katinka Hosszu<\/strong> won Olympic gold in the 400 IM last summer by almost five seconds, and she has also won gold at the 2009, 2013 and 2015 editions of the FINA World Championships.<\/p>\n

She is only No. 2 in the world in the 400 IM as Worlds begin, but few would consider her anything but the prohibitive favorite.\u00a0Maya DiRado<\/strong>, the runner-up behind Hosszu at the Olympics last summer, is retired, and the top swimmer in the world this year (Japan’s\u00a0Yui Ohashi<\/strong>) is still five seconds slower than Hosszu’s world record.<\/p>\n

As for that stunning world record of 4:26.36, that might\u00a0not\u00a0<\/em>be under threat in Budapest because the event falls on day eight, as opposed to day one in the Olympic program. Hosszu likely will have already swum upwards of 10 races by the time she gets to this one.<\/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

Women’s\u00a0400 IM<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Current Records:<\/h3>\n

World Record:<\/strong>\u00a0Katinka Hosszu, HUN (2016) — 4:26.26
\nChampionship Record:<\/strong>\u00a0Katinka Hosszu, HUN (2013) — 4:30.31
\nAmerican Record:<\/strong>\u00a0Katie Hoff (2008) — 4:31.12<\/p>\n

2015 World Champion:<\/strong> Katinka Hosszu, HUN — 4:30.39
\n2016 Olympic Gold Medalist:<\/strong> Katinka Hosszu, HUN — 4:26.26
\n2017 World No. 1:<\/strong>\u00a0Yui Ohashi, JPN — 4:31.42<\/p>\n

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

David Rieder’s Picks:<\/h3>\n

Gold:<\/strong> Katinka Hosszu, HUN
\nSilver<\/strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0Mireia Belmonte, ESP
\nBronze:<\/strong> Yui Ohashi, JPN<\/p>\n

John Lohn’s Picks:<\/h3>\n

Gold:<\/strong> Katinka Hosszu, HUN
\nSilver<\/strong>:<\/strong> Yui Ohashi, JPN
\nBronze:<\/strong>\u00a0Hannah Miley, GBR<\/p>\n

Andy Ross’ Picks:<\/h3>\n

Gold:<\/strong> Katinka Hosszu, HUN
\nSilver<\/strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0Hannah Miley, GBR
\nBronze:<\/strong>\u00a0Mireia Belmonte, ESP<\/p>\n

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

Day One:<\/h3>\n