{"id":380571,"date":"2019-07-17T17:29:30","date_gmt":"2019-07-18T00:29:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=380571"},"modified":"2019-07-17T17:29:30","modified_gmt":"2019-07-18T00:29:30","slug":"2019-fina-world-championships-predictions-mixed-4x100-free-relay-features-numerous-scenarios","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/2019-fina-world-championships-predictions-mixed-4x100-free-relay-features-numerous-scenarios\/","title":{"rendered":"2019 FINA World Championships Predictions: Mixed 4×100 Free Relay Features Numerous Scenarios"},"content":{"rendered":"

The mixed 4×100 free relay is a relatively new addition to the World Championships lineup as it was added in 2015. The United States, Netherlands and Canada have won the gold, silver and bronze at the last two World Championships. Will that trend continue in 2019? The Australians are probably the most stacked team in the 100 free, but have not put their best team out behind the blocks. They did not even swim in 2015 and swam a B team in 2017. If they put their best swimmers on the relay (Cate Campbell<\/strong>, Emma McKeon<\/strong>,\u00a0Kyle Chalmers<\/strong>,\u00a0Clyde Lewis<\/strong>) then they are strong contenders to win the gold medal.<\/p>\n

The mixed 4×100 free relay is not an Olympic event unlike the mixed medley relay, which was added to next year’s Olympic schedule<\/a>. With the event not on the Olympic program, Australia hasn’t treated this event with any emphasis, thus leaving their best swimmers to rest for the medley relays on the last day. The mixed 4×100 free relay is not as unpredictable as the mixed medley. Most countries start with two men and end with two women. There isn’t as much drama as in the medley where countries can swim in any order that best fits their stroke specialists.<\/p>\n

The Americans have won the last two world titles in this relay as they have the likes of Caeleb Dressel<\/strong> and Simone Manuel<\/strong>, two gold medal favorites in the 100 free. The second spots are a bit wide open on each side with the likes of Blake Pieroni<\/strong>,\u00a0Zach Apple<\/strong>,\u00a0Nathan Adrian<\/strong>, etc. competing for that second spot. Behind Manuel,\u00a0Mallory Comerford<\/strong>,\u00a0Abbey Weitzeil\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Margo Geer\u00a0<\/strong>all have chances to get on the relay. Whoever the United States decides to put on the relay will give them a chance to win the gold medal. In 2017, they went with Dressel, Adrian, Comerford and Manuel and broke the world record at 3:19.60. A world record might be a bit of a reach here but it isn’t impossible.<\/p>\n

If Dressel swims this event, it will be the third swim on day seven for him as he will (most likely) have the 50 free and 100 fly finals earlier in the session.<\/p>\n

France had the fastest time in the world in 2018 but only because the European Championships were the only major international meet to feature this non-Olympic event last summer. The French have a strong team on paper with\u00a0Mehdy Metella<\/strong>,\u00a0Clement Mignon<\/strong>,\u00a0Charlotte Bonnet\u00a0<\/strong>and Beryl Gastaldello<\/strong>. The race really depends on which coaching staffs put their best four swimmers out there and who takes this event seriously.<\/p>\n

Based on 2019 times, the top eight looks as follows:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. 3:20.34, Australia<\/li>\n
  2. 3:23.18, United States<\/li>\n
  3. 3:23.89, France<\/li>\n
  4. 3:24.16, Russia<\/li>\n
  5. 3:24.54, Netherlands<\/li>\n
  6. 3:24.57, Canada<\/li>\n
  7. 3:24.86, Brazil<\/li>\n
  8. 3:25.25, Japan<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The Netherlands and Canada each have two strong women on the end with\u00a0Ranomi Kromowidjojo\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Femke Heemskerk\u00a0<\/strong>for the Dutch and\u00a0Taylor Ruck\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Penny Oleksiak\u00a0<\/strong>for the Canadians. The problem is those countries don’t have the two men to compete with the likes of Russia and France. Russia has\u00a0the second fastest man in the world right now in\u00a0Vladislav Grinev\u00a0<\/strong>and veteran\u00a0Vladimir Morozov<\/strong>. But the Russians don’t have the women to compete with the Netherlands and Canada.<\/p>\n

    Current Records:<\/h2>\n

    World Record:\u00a0<\/strong>3:19.60, United States, 2017 – Caeleb Dressel, Nathan Adrian, Mallory Comerford, Simone Manuel
    \nChampionships Record:\u00a0<\/strong>3:19.60, United States, 2017 – Caeleb Dressel, Nathan Adrian, Mallory Comerford, Simone Manuel
    \nAmerican Record:\u00a0<\/strong>3:19.60, 2017 – Caeleb Dressel, Nathan Adrian, Mallory Comerford, Simone Manuel<\/p>\n

    2017 World Champion:\u00a0<\/strong>United States, 3:19.60, 2017 – Caeleb Dressel, Nathan Adrian, Mallory Comerford, Simone Manuel
    \n2018 Fastest Times:<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. 3:22.07, France<\/li>\n
    2. 3:23.97, Netherlands<\/li>\n
    3. 3:24.50, Russia<\/li>\n
    4. 3:24.94, Italy<\/li>\n
    5. 3:26.59, Germany<\/li>\n
    6. 3:29.30, Hungary<\/li>\n
    7. 3:29.62, Poland<\/li>\n
    8. 3:29.73, Israel<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Swimming World\u2019s\u00a0<\/em>team of\u00a0Andy Ross<\/strong>,\u00a0Dan D\u2019Addona<\/strong>,\u00a0David Rieder<\/strong>,\u00a0Diana Pimer\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Taylor Covington\u00a0<\/strong>will be selecting their choices for the medals at World Championships in each event. Read below who everybody picked.<\/p>\n

      Andy\u2019s Picks:<\/h3>\n
        \n
      1. Australia<\/li>\n
      2. United States<\/li>\n
      3. France<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Dan\u2019s Picks:<\/h3>\n
          \n
        1. Australia<\/li>\n
        2. United States<\/li>\n
        3. Netherlands<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          David\u2019s Picks:<\/h3>\n
            \n
          1. United States<\/li>\n
          2. Australia<\/li>\n
          3. Netherlands<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Diana\u2019s Picks:<\/h3>\n
              \n
            1. Australia<\/li>\n
            2. United States<\/li>\n
            3. Netherlands<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              Taylor\u2019s Picks:<\/h3>\n
                \n
              1. United States<\/li>\n
              2. Australia<\/li>\n
              3. Netherlands<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                2019 FINA World Championships Predictions:<\/h3>\n

                Day 1:<\/strong><\/p>\n