{"id":266767,"date":"2017-07-21T05:00:35","date_gmt":"2017-07-21T12:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=266767"},"modified":"2017-07-21T09:13:04","modified_gmt":"2017-07-21T16:13:04","slug":"fina-world-championships-predictions-mens-400-medley-relay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/fina-world-championships-predictions-mens-400-medley-relay\/","title":{"rendered":"FINA World Championships Predictions: Men’s 400 Medley Relay"},"content":{"rendered":"

Great Britain gave the American men a real scare in the men’s 400 medley relay at last year’s Olympics, and there’s reason to believe the Brits can do so again this year at the FINA World Championships.<\/p>\n

The pieces are there: Backstroker\u00a0Chris Walker-Hebborn\u00a0<\/strong>is not the swimmer he once was, but world record-holder\u00a0Adam Peaty\u00a0<\/strong>is capable of a 56-mid breaststroke split like he posted at the Olympics last summer. Butterflyer\u00a0James Guy<\/strong>, typically known as a mid-distance freestyler, and anchor\u00a0Duncan Scott\u00a0<\/strong>won’t give up much ground.<\/p>\n

The American fortunes in this relay might depend on how close\u00a0Ryan Murphy\u00a0<\/strong>can get to his world record-setting form of last year on the backstroke leg. He gave breaststroker\u00a0Cody Miller\u00a0<\/strong>a 1.8-second advantage on Great Britain, and Peaty swam right by him.<\/p>\n

Miller or\u00a0Kevin Cordes\u00a0<\/strong>will handle the breaststroke leg, and it seems most likely that\u00a0Caeleb Dressel\u00a0<\/strong>will swim the fly and\u00a0Nathan Adrian\u00a0<\/strong>will keep his typical anchor leg. The loss of\u00a0Michael Phelps\u00a0<\/strong>might not hurt so much here with Dressel having already posted a time of 50.87 in the 100 fly this year, faster than Phelps went all of last year.<\/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\u00a0400 Medley Relay<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Current Records:<\/h3>\n

World Record:<\/strong>\u00a0United States — Peirsol, Shanteau, Phelps, Walters (2009) — 3:27.28
\nChampionship Record:<\/strong>\u00a0United States —\u00a0Peirsol, Shanteau, Phelps, Walters (2009) — 3:27.28
\nAmerican Record:<\/strong> Peirsol, Shanteau, Phelps, Walters (2009) — 3:27.28<\/p>\n

2015 World Champion:<\/strong>\u00a0United States — Murphy, Cordes, Shields, Adrian — 3:29.93
\n2016 Olympic Gold Medalist:<\/strong>\u00a0United States — Murphy, Miller, Phelps, Adrian — 3:27.95<\/p>\n

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

David Rieder’s Picks:<\/h3>\n

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

John Lohn’s Picks:<\/h3>\n

Gold:<\/strong> United States
\nSilver<\/strong>:<\/strong> Great Britain
\nBronze:<\/strong>\u00a0Australia<\/p>\n

Andy Ross’ Picks:<\/h3>\n

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

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

Day One:<\/h3>\n