2017 FINA World ChampionshipsJul 20, 2017 by Maclin Simpson
2017 FINA World Championships: 4x100m Freestyle Relays Breakdown
2017 FINA World Championships: 4x100m Freestyle Relays Breakdown
This article previews the 2017 FINA World Championships. Specifically, FloSwimming predicts the men's and women's freestyle relay at the 2017 FINA World Championships for swimming.
2017 FINA World Championships
July 23-30, 2017Budapest, Hungary
Dagály Aquatics Arena
SCHEDULE
LIVE RESULTS
With the 2017 FINA World Championships just three days away, we're taking a deep dive into the most anticipated relays of the meet -- the men's and women's 4x100m freestyle relays. Below are the top eight teams ranked (including splits) when the four best individual flat-start performances are added up. Keep in mind: the add up times below do not factor in relay splits.
Both the men's and women's 4x100m freestyle relays are slated for Sunday, July 23 -- the first day of competition.
Men 4x100m Freestyle Relay
| USA | 2017 Best |
|---|---|
| Adrian | 47.96 |
| Dressel | 47.97 |
| Apple | 48.14 |
| Haas | 48.20 |
| 2017 add up | 3:12.17 |
| BRAZIL | 2017 Best |
| Santos | 48.11 |
| Chierighini | 48.46 |
| Fratus | 48.50 |
| Cielo | 48.92 |
| 2017 add up | 3:13.97 |
| AUSTRALIA | 2017 Best |
| McEvoy | 47.91 |
| Cartwright | 48.43 |
| Incerti | 49.03 |
| Graham | 49.19 |
| 2017 add up | 3:14.56 |
| RUSSIA | 2017 Best |
| Morozov | 48.28 |
| Izotov | 48.53 |
| Arbuzov | 49.05 |
| Korolev | 49.13 |
| 2017 add up | 3:14.99 |
| ITALY | 2017 Best |
| Dotto | 48.66 |
| Miressi | 48.71 |
| Magnini | 48.85 |
| Zazzeri | 48.96 |
| 2017 add up | 3:15.18 |
| JAPAN | 2017 Best |
| Nakamura | 48.26 |
| Shioura | 48.66 |
| Matsumoto | 49.02 |
| Kobori | 49.42 |
| 2017 add up | 3:15.36 |
| HUNGARY | 2017 Best |
| Nemeth | 48.64 |
| Kozma | 48.68 |
| Holoda | 48.87 |
| Bohus | 49.47 |
| 2017 add up | 3:15.66 |
| FRANCE | 2017 Best |
| Metella | 48.23 |
| Stravius | 48.68 |
| Mignon | 49.03 |
| Bourelly | 49.75 |
| 2017 add up | 3:15.69 |
The men's 4x100m freestyle relay on day one of the World Championships never fails to surprise. As everyone gets nervous for his first race of the meet, expect the unexpected.
In 2009, it was Team USA causing yet another upset over the star-studded Frenchmen. In 2011, it was Australia, led by a 47.49 opening split from James Magnussen, that upset USA for the gold. In 2013, another heated four-way battle took place between USA, France, Australia, and Russia -- with France coming from behind thanks to a 47.59 clutch anchor from Jeremy Stravius to back up its Olympic gold medal in 2012. In 2015, we saw France win yet again after sluggish performances from the USA and Australia.
This year in Budapest, however, a USA team led by Nathan Adrian (47.96) and Caeleb Dressel (47.97) comes in as the firm favorite through sheer depth of swimmers and an absence of stars from other contending nations. Even in the post-Phelps era, USA comes in clearly with the fastest time on paper with an aggregate of 3:12.27. Dressel is proving to be a breakout superstar and could start his hectic week with a gold medal, along with surprise debut Zach Apple (48.14) and the fearless Townley Haas (48.20).
The Aussies are missing big guns Kyle Chalmers (2016 Olympic champ) due to recent heart surgery and James Magnussen (two-time world champ), who is preparing for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, so they are severely weakened from their Rio bronze medal performance. Australia will still have one of its stars, Cameron McEvoy (47.91), on hand to lead the team out with teenager Jack Cartwright (48.43) -- who is set to make his international debut. Still, the Aussies look a man or two short to make a a serious impact here. The French team also seems to be a leg or two shy of a world-class foursome after the retirements of Florent Manaudou and Fabien Gilot. The reigning and two-time defending world champs aren't even entered in this event.
The teams looking to surge forward atop the podium to begin this new quadrennial are Brazil and Italy, which both have a mixture of new school and old school swimmers. For the Brazilians, their new No. 1-ranked 100m freestyler is 21-year-old Gabriel Santos with a quick 48.11, followed by consistent veterans Marcelo Chierighini (48.46), Bruno Fratus (48.50), and Cesar Cielo (48.92). Likewise, the Italians introduce rising stars Alessandro Miressi (48.71) and Lorenzo Zazzeri (48.96) to proven performer Luca Dotto (47.9 in 2016) and the ageless Filipo Magnini (47.5 split in 2015) and are in good shape to make the podium as they did in Kazan, Russia, two years ago.
We thoroughly expect the USA to dominate this one and take the gold ahead of a good battle for the silver and bronze between Brazil, Australia, and Italy.
Other contenders for the podium will be Russia with Vlad Morozov and Danila Izotov, Japan with Nakamura, and host nation Hungary with a consistent squad.
Predictions
1.) USA2.) Brazil
3.) Australia
Women 4x100m Freestyle Relay
| USA | 2017 Best |
|---|---|
| Comerford | 52.81 |
| Manuel | 53.05 |
| Neal | 53.59 |
| Worrell | 53.87 |
| 2017 add up | 3:33.32 |
| AUSTRALIA | 2017 Best |
| B. Campbell | 52.85 |
| McKeon | 53.12 |
| Jack | 53.40 |
| Wilson | 54.24 |
| 2017 add up | 3:33.61 |
| NETHERLANDS | 2017 Best |
| Kromowidjojo | 53.07 |
| Heemskerk | 53.75 |
| Steenbergen | 53.98 |
| Van Der Meer | 54.56 |
| 2017 add up | 3:35.36 |
| CANADA | 2017 Best |
| Oleksiak | 53.64 |
| Mainville | 53.95 |
| Toro | 54.14 |
| Van Landeghem | 54.16 |
| 2017 add up | 3:35.89 |
| SWEDEN | 2017 Best |
| Sjöström | 52.08 |
| Coleman | 53.36 |
| Hansson | 54.79 |
| Lindborg | 55.94 |
| 2017 add up | 3:36.17 |
| CHINA | 2017 Best |
| Zhu | 53.42 |
| Zhang | 54.09 |
| Al | 54.41 |
| Wu | 54.58 |
| 2017 add up | 3:36.50 |
| FRANCE | 2017 Best |
| Bonnet | 53.65 |
| Gastaldello | 54.55 |
| Wattel | 55.13 |
| Fabre | 55.24 |
| 2017 add up | 3:37.57 |
| ITALY | 2017 Best |
| Pellegrini | 53.92 |
| Di Pietro | 54.11 |
| Ferraioli | 55.24 |
| Pezzato | 55.37 |
| 2017 add up | 3:38.64 |
Current world holders? Check. Won the past two Olympics? Check. Defending world champs? Check. Favorites to win in Budapest? Not quite.
In the absence of their leader, 100m freestyle world-record holder Cate Campbell -- who decided to skip this year's major international competition -- the Aussies will be facing a major setback before the race even begins. Even with defending world champion Bronte Campbell (52.85) at the helm and proven relay charger Emma McKeon (53.12) behind her, the Aussies are going to two unproven performers to bring it home. Teenager Shayna Jack stepped up big time at their Trials to place third in 53.40, followed by backstroker Maddi Wilson (54.24) and veterans Brittany Elmslie, Kotuku Ngawati, and Emily Seebohm. They seem one fast leg short of beating this year's new addition -- Team USA.
Mallory Comerford announced herself in a big way last month at the U.S. Trials in Indianapolis, upsetting co-Olympic champ in the 100m freestyle from Rio -- Simone Manuel -- 52.81 to 53.05. Lia Neal (53.59) and Kelsi Worrell (53.87) are also proven relay performers, and it's never bad to have Katie Ledecky up your sleeve and as your fifth swimmer. Ledecky split a 52.7 anchor on last year's Rio silver medal swim.
Any team with Sarah Sjöström on it is going to be dangerous after she swam a blistering 52.08 in-season to just miss the individual world record. Backed up by countrywoman Michelle Coleman (53.36), who is quietly turning herself into a world-class performer, and Louise Hansson of USC (54.79), the Swedes are just one solid performer off a strong medal contending relay. Likewise, the Dutch team will be feeling the absence of teenager Marit Steenbergen due to injury. However, they are left with speedy veterans Ranomi Kromowidjojo (53.07) and Femke Heemskerk (53.75) to lead the team.
The Canadian women are rapidly improving to be one of the stronger women's teams in international swimming. Riding the success of 17-year-old Penny Oleksiak's stunning four-medal performance at the 2016 Rio Olympics, including tied gold in the 100m freestyle, the Canadian women will be looking for a podium finish in Budapest. With a healthy mix of youth and experience, Oleksiak (53.64), Sandrine Mainville (53.85), Michelle Toro (54.14), and Chantal Van Landeghem (54.16) are not far from fighting for the top of the podium very soon.
Predictions
1.) USA2.) Australia
3.) Canada
Mixed 4x100m Freestyle Relay
The Americans and Australians automatically become favorites here, as the depth of the rosters for both the men's and women's teams get tested throughout the week with heats and finals of these mixed relays.
Team USA can field a full strength team of Nathan Adrian (47.96), Caeleb Dressel (47.97), Mallory Comerford (52.81), and Simone Manuel (53.05). All four of these swimmers are ranked top five in the world in the 100m freestyle.
The Australians have a strong team on paper of Cameron McEvoy (47.91), Jack Cartwright (48.43), Bronte Campbell (52.85), and Emma McKeon (53.12), but not all are proven relay performers.
The Canadians have some firepower and benefit with the mixed relays as their shallow men's roster can still prove effective. With Yuri Kisil (48.6) and Marcus Thormeyer (48.4 split in 2016) combining with stars Penny Oleksiak (52.70 in Rio 2016) and Sandrine Mainville (53.95), the Canadians will strive to reach the podium like they did in 2015.
The Brits come into calculation with world No. 1 Duncan Scott (47.90) leading them through, along with Adam Barrett (48.9), Freya Anderson (54.3), and Siobhan Marie O'Connor (53.8 in 2015).
Russia -- led by Vlad Morozov -- and the Italians -- with veterans Luca Dotto, Filipo Magnini, and Federica Pellegrini -- are relevant as well. They will be hunting for podium finishes and spots in the final at the very least.
Predictions
1.) USA2.) Australia
3.) Italy
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