2024 Paris Summer season Olympic Video games
By the Numbers: Girls’s 4×200 Free Relay
- World Report: 7:37.50 – AUS, (2023)
- World Junior Report: 7:51.47 – CAN, Ok. Sanchez, P. Oleksiak, R. Smith, T. Ruck (2017)
- Olympic Report: 7:40.33 – CHN, Y. Junxuan, T. Muhan, Z. Yufei, L. Bingjie (2021)
- 2021 Olympic Champion: 7:40.33 – CHN, Y. Junxuan, T. Muhan, Z. Yufei, L. Bingjie
The ladies’s 4×200 freestyle relay has a full lineup certified, with 16 nations set to place forth groups to compete within the occasion in Paris.
Going for the Gold
Australia is the heavy favourite to safe the gold medal within the girls’s 4×200 freestyle relay; a stacked roster within the 200 free, Australia virtually has this race within the bag.
Australia first broke the world file within the 4×200 free relay again in 2008 and has since flip-flopped possession of the file with China. The nation has held the world file since 2022, with the relay staff of Mollie O’Callaghan, Ariarne Titmus, Brianna Throssell and Shayna Jack decreasing the usual to a time of seven:37.50 on the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka.
Apart from holding the world file within the relay itself, Australia additionally has the 2 quickest girls on the planet within the 200 free on their roster. At Australian Swimming Trials, Titmus broke O’Callaghan’s world file within the particular person 200 free with a present stopping time of 1:52.23, over half a second below the earlier time of 1:52.85. Regardless of falling simply in need of Titmus, O’Callaghan was additionally below her file tempo, throwing down a time of 1:52.48.
Rounding out the highest 4 at Australian Swimming Trials was Lani Pallister and Throssell. Newcomer Pallister will likely be making her Olympic debut this summer season, and took Third behind O’Callaghan within the 200 with a time of 1:55.57. Olympic veteran Throssell, who was already a member of the world record-breaking Australian relay, positioned 4th with a time of 1:55.74.
Titmus, O’Callaghan and Throssell all posted occasions sooner than what they turned in as splits in the course of the 2023 World Championships, which means that when you add up all 4 particular person 200 free occasions from the competitors, the Australian relay staff is shaping as much as deliver house the gold and doubtlessly shatter their very own world file in Paris.
Australian 4×200 Relay Break up Comparability
*Shayna Jack was on the world file relay in 2023, however tied for fifth at Trials with a time of 1:56.22.
Racing for Silver
Three nations are gearing up for a tricky battle within the pool within the 4×200 free relay, as China, the USA and Canada will all be vying for silver.
China
With China being considered one of Australia’s closest rivals within the relay for the final a number of years, the nation is certain to be one to look at in the case of chasing down a silver medal. China final held the world file in 2021, when the relay staff of Yang Junxuan, Tang Muhan, Zhang Yufei and Li Bingjie posted a time of seven:40.33 to win gold on the Olympic Video games.
All 4 members of that squad will likely be returning to the Video games this summer season, though it isn’t confirmed who will likely be making up the relay staff. China has been recognized to make some odd relay choices in
Courtesy of Fabio Cetti
the previous, particularly when it appeared {that a} relay wouldn’t medal, so there may very well be some surprises in retailer in Paris.
On the 2024 Chinese language Nationwide Swimming Championships, Junxuan gained the 200 free with a time of 1:54.37, whereas Bingjie was runner-up in a time of 1:56.29. Ending Third and 4th was Liu Yaxin, who posted a time of 1:56.56, and Muhan, who swam a time of 1:56.85.
Junxuan tied the opening cut up that she threw down because the leadoff on the gold medal-winning relay in Tokyo, however Bingjie and Muhan had been each barely off of their occasions. Including up the 4 quickest occasions within the 200 free from the Nationwide Championships would put China at a complete time of seven:44.07 for the 4×200 free relay, proper across the time that China’s squad posted on the 2023 World Championships.
United States
The U.S. will even be attempting to chase down a silver medal in Paris. The U.S.’s quickest efficiency in latest competitions was additionally the World Championships in Fukuoka, the place the staff of Erin Gemmell, Katie Ledecky, Bella Sims and Alex Shackell threw down a time of seven:41.38 to deliver house a silver medal.
If we assume that the highest 4 finishers within the 200 free from the U.S. Olympic Trials will make up the relay squad on the Paris Video games, then Ledecky and Gemmell will likely be reprising their roles on the relay, solely this time doubtless joined by Claire Weinstein and Paige Madden.
At Trials in June, Ledecky posted a time of 1:55.22 in her particular person 200, which isn’t far off what she cut up within the relay final summer season. Weinstein and Madden took 2nd and Third at Trials, handing over occasions of 1:56.18 and 1:56.36 respectively, each of that are sooner than Gemmell’s anchoring time within the relay at Worlds. For her half, Gemmell posted a time of 1:56.75 at Trials, just some tenths slower than her relay cut up.
As soon as once more including up these 4 quickest occasions, the U.S. would see a time of seven:44.51 if every swimmer had been to match their Trials’ efficiency. This places them proper within the operating with China’s projected relay staff and means that it’ll greater than doubtless come right down to who can outswim who within the remaining in Paris.
Canada
Canada can also be able to make a robust play for silver in Paris based mostly on the performances of the nation’s prime 4 swimmers within the 200 free on the Canadian Swimming Trials.
Courtesy of Michael P. Corridor/Swimming Canada
Summer season McIntosh secured a convincing victory with a time of 1:53.69, marking the Third-fastest time on the planet this yr. Her time trails solely Titmus and O’Callaghan’s, making her one of many largest rivals for the Australians and placing Canada on a extra even enjoying discipline.
Following McIntosh at Trials had been Mary-Sophie Harvey (1:55.44), Julie Brousseau (1:57.60) and Emma O’Croinin (1:57.86). Though Brousseau and O’Croinin are the one swimmers of these talked about up to now with occasions within the 1:57 vary, their performances mixed with McIntosh’s and Harvey’s add as much as a complete time of seven:44.59, mere hundredths off of the U.S.’s projected time.
Finals Contenders
Nice Britain
Nice Britain is certain to place forth a relay staff that will likely be a prime contender for the finals in Paris. The nation is presently ranked 4th within the record of qualifiers, due to the efficiency by Freya Colbert, Lucy Hope, Abbie Wooden and Freya Anderson that resulted in a time of seven:46.63 on the World Championships in Fukuoka, and virtually the very same squad will likely be taking up the occasion on the Video games.
The British Olympic Trials in April noticed Colbert emerge as the person victor (1:56.22), with Wooden taking the runner-up spot (1:56.62). Rather than Anderson, Medi Harris will make her Olympic debut on the relay after putting Third (1:58.10), whereas Hope rounded out the highest 4 (1:58.81).
A self-imposed British qualification normal for the 4×200 free relay required the highest 4 swims to land below the usual of seven:51.89 with a purpose to be contested in Paris; the mixed occasions of Colbert, Wooden, Harris and Hope simply slid below this normal, including as much as a complete time of seven:49.75. This is identical relay squad that gained a silver medal in Doha with a time of seven:50.90, which means that if they’ll proceed to enhance upon their latest performances, they need to be poised to land themselves solidly within the remaining.
Brazil
One other nation seeking to slide into the ultimate will likely be Brazil, who put up a 4th-place 4×200 free relay on the World Championships in Doha. The staff of Maria Fernanda Costa, Stephanie Balduccini, Gabrielle Roncatto and Aline Rodrigues turned in a time of seven:52.71. That efficiency landed them within the #6 spot within the rating of certified relay groups heading into Paris.
Courtesy of Satiro Sodre/SSPress
Rather than Rodrigues, it appears that evidently Maria Paula Heitman will likely be becoming a member of Costa, Balduccini and Roncatto on the relay squad for the Olympic Video games. Costa gained the person 200 free with a time of 1:56.37 on the Brazilian Swimming Championships, whereas Balduccini was the runner-up with a time of 1:58.51. Roncatto and Heitman positioned Third and 4th with occasions of 1:58.57 and 1:58.81, respectively.
Their mixed occasions would add as much as a time of seven:52.26 general, which is simply barely sooner than the time they certified with in February. In consequence, they need to have the ability to make it into the ultimate however could also be proper on the border relying on how different groups’ swimmers carry out.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is one other nation that could possibly sneak into the ultimate if their relay squad can ship prime kind performances. Whereas the ultimate lineup is not going to be decided till Paris, the doubtless staff based mostly on latest performances is Marrit Steenbergen, Silke Holkenborg, Imani de Jong and Janna van Kooten.
Taking their prime occasions (Steenbergen – 1:55.51, Holkenborg – 1:59.13, de Jong – 2:00.81 and van Kooten – 1:58.12), the Netherlands squad might see a projected time of seven:53.57. Opposite to a lot of the different groups we’ve mentioned, this time is barely slower than their entry time of seven:52.97 from the 2023 World Championships. This places the nation in a a lot harder place to safe a spot within the remaining.
New Zealand
New Zealand will likely be preventing for a spot within the remaining, however as one of many lower-ranked groups within the discipline, they’ll have their work minimize out for them to make it in. They’re presently ranked eighth on the record of certified groups, however, much like the Netherlands, the nation has a slower projected time than what they certified with based mostly on swimmers’ latest performances.
On the New Zealand Championships in April, Erika Fairweather was the quickest competitor within the discipline by far, profitable with a time of 1:55.49. The closest behind her was Laticia Transom, who posted a time of 1:58.42, adopted by Caitlin Deans in a time of two:00.72 and Chelsey Edwards in a time of two:01.00. Nevertheless, Edwards doesn’t seem on the New Zealand Olympic roster, which means the ultimate spot might go to Eve Thomas, who swam the opening leg of the relay in Doha in a time of 1:59.07.
Assuming Thomas joins Fairweather, Transom and Deans on the Paris relay staff, their performances would add as much as a complete time of seven:53.70. That point is over half a second slower than New Zealand’s relay efficiency in Doha (7:53.02), making it questionable whether or not they can maintain onto their spot within the rankings to make the ultimate or not.
Hungary
If Hungary’s relay squad can enhance upon their latest performances just a bit bit, then the nation might very nicely squeeze its approach into the ultimate of the 4×200 free relay. Hungary is presently ninth within the rankings of certified relay groups however might see a sooner time carried out in Paris.
Courtesy of European Aquatics
The present relay staff, based mostly on the Hungarian Olympic roster, appears to be like like it is going to be Nikolett Pádár, Minna Abraham, Dora Molnar, and Panna Ugrai. On the Hungarian nationwide championships in April, Padar threw down a time of 1:56.83, whereas Molnar turned in a time of 1:58.95 and Ugrai posted a time of 1:59.84. Whereas Abraham didn’t compete on the nationwide championships, she just lately posted a time of 1:57.22 within the 200 free on the European Aquatics Championships; the meet additionally noticed Ugrai decrease her finest to a time of 1:58.07.
The add-up of all 4 swimmers’ latest performances involves a time of seven:51.96. Hungary’s qualifying efficiency noticed the nation place seventh on the 2023 World Championships towards most of the identical rivals they’ll face in Paris, so if they’ll nail their projected time then they may handle to safe a spot within the remaining.
Israel
On the 2023 World Championships, Israel’s 4×200 free relay staff of Anastasia Gorbenko, Daria Golovaty, Ayla Spitz and Lea Polonsky completed tenth with a time of seven:59.02, placing them within the #12 spot on the rating of Olympic-qualified relays. The identical squad appears to able to tackle the identical race in Paris, solely this time with a considerably improved projected time.
On the European Aquatics Championships in June, Golovaty and Polonsky each posted private finest occasions within the particular person 200 free, handing over occasions of 1:58.62 and 1:59.31, respectively. Spitz posted a time of two:00.41 however had been below the two:00 mark only a month prior when she swam a private finest time of 1:5879. Whereas Gorbenko didn’t contest the 200 free individually, she threw down a time of 1:56.74 because the leadoff within the 4×200 free relay. Taking every of their occasions from Euros, the add-up for his or her relay in Paris is a time of seven:55.08, however on condition that they gained the 4×200 free relay in a time of seven:51.83, it’s doubtless that they surpass this projected time.
Israel didn’t put up a relay for this occasion on the final Olympics, making their possibilities of touchdown within the remaining much more noteworthy.
Japan
A shock contender for the ultimate is Japan. The Japanese 4×200 free relay certified with a time of seven:57.22 on the World Championships in Fukuoka, touchdown them at tenth on the rating of certified nations. Japan didn’t crack the highest eight at both the 2023 or 2024 World Championships, however the latest performances by the swimmers more likely to make up their relay squad might flip that round in Paris.
On the Japanese Olympic Trials, Waka Kobori secured the victory within the 200 free with a time of 1:58.22, adopted by Rio Shirai (1:58.27), Hiroko Makino (1:58.42) and Nagisa Ikemoto (1:58.51). Altogether, their performances would lead to a relay time of seven:53.42, practically 4 seconds sooner than Japan’s present entry time. If they’ll replicate and even enhance these performances once more in Paris, then Japan might very nicely discover itself within the Olympic remaining of the 4×200 free relay.
The Verdict
There’s little doubt that the 4×200 free relay will likely be all Australia’s proper from the beginning. Trying on the projected occasions, they’ve an eight second victory margin heading into the Paris Video games and are the one staff anticipated to be below the 7:40 mark. In consequence, we are able to count on the relay to be an even bigger race for silver and bronze than it is going to be for the gold.
SwimSwam’s Prime 8 Picks
| Rank | Nation | Entry Time | Projected Time |
| 1 | Australia | 7:37.50 | 7:36.02 |
| 2 | China | 7:44.40 | 7:44.07 |
| 3 | United States | 7:41.38 | 7:44.51 |
| 4 | Canada | 7:49.98 | 7:44.59 |
| 5 | Nice Britain | 7:46.63 | 7:49.75 |
| 6 | Hungary | 7:54.65 | 7:51.96 |
| 7 | Brazil | 7:52.71 | 7:52.26 |
| 8 | Israel | 7:59.02 | 7:55.08 |
Darkish Horse: France – France heads into the Olympics ranked twelfth among the many certified relay groups, with a time of seven:59.27 from the 2024 World Championships. Their efficiency in Doha noticed them place ninth general, narrowly lacking out on the ultimate. Based mostly on the 4 quickest swims within the 200 free on the French Elite Championships, France might put collectively a relay staff of Lucile Tessariol (1:59.29), Anastasiia Kirpichnikova (1:59.88), Marina Jehl (2:00.04) and Assia Touati (2:00.37) for a projected time of seven:59.58. Nevertheless, Tessariol, Kirpichnikova and Touati had been all barely off of their finest occasions, which means that they may simply decrease their general relay time if they’ll make a return to prime kind, giving them a preventing probability for the ultimate.
