2024 World Championships Day 4 Prelims Preview: All Eyes On Pan Zhanle In The 100 Free

2024 WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

We are just about half way through the 2024 World Championships in Doha. The fourth prelims session will feature four individual events, as well as the mixed 4×100 medley relay at the end.

DAY 4 PRELIMS EVENTS

  • Women’s 50 back
  • Men’s 100 free
  • Men’s 200 IM
  • Women’s 200 fly
  • Mixed 4×100 medley relay

After capturing the 100 backstroke last night, Claire Curzan will be back in action in the 50 today. Curzan is entered lower on the psych sheet in this event, however, she led the field by a quarter of a second at the halfway point of the 100 yesterday. Coming in as the top seed is Great Britain’s Lauren Cox, who claimed the bronze medal in this event in 2023.

All eyes will  be on Pan Zhanle in the men’s 100 free after his world record performance on day one. Pan had a rougher race in the 200 free on day two, where he finished 38th out of prelims with a time of 1:51.03. Coming in as the official top seed in the event is Matthew Richards from Great Britain, who’s primary focus coming into the meet was qualifying Great Britain’s relay.

2023 World Championship silver medalist Duncan Scott headlines the field in the men’s 200 IM. Scott last time competed in this event in Fukuoka (1:55.95), where he was just shy of his career best time of 1:55.28 done in Tokyo. Shaine Casas is the 2nd seed, but owns the fastest career best time of the field with a 1:55.24 from 2022.

Rounding out the individual events for this session is the women’s 200 fly, which is led by Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Lana Pudar. She was 4th in this event last summer, but the podium ahead of her is absent this time around. She’ll be in the hunt for her 1st LCM World’s medal after taking bronze in the SCM version of this event in 2021.

The final event of the morning will be the mixed 4×100 medley relay. China is the defending champion in this, however, their team (and many others) will likely look much different than they did in 2023.

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Swimz
9 months ago

USA could use, Akins, Jake, Curzan, Addison or Akins, piper, Andrew , Addison for prelims and Armstrong, fink, curzan and Douglas for the final

Andrew
9 months ago

I’ll still take Kyle for the 100 in Paris. Dude went 47.1 in Tokyo 9 months after shoulder surgery and has been there countless times.

Not that I don’t trust Pan but if I had to bet on someone going 47.2 in a big final, I’ll take Kyle

Justin Pollard
Reply to  Andrew
9 months ago

I agree, but obviously, I think Alexy will be at them both 😉

Andrew
Reply to  Justin Pollard
9 months ago

Maybe if he learns how to dive in straight in streamline, kick underwater, and leave the Cal program altogether

Leoyu
9 months ago

It’s not necessarily likely, but I wouldn’t be surprised if China goes 1-2 in this 100. Back in Fukuoka, Wang Haoyu didn’t make it to Semis which isn’t unexpected for an 18yo at his first WC to misjudge a heat swim. But he did anchor in 46.9 and 47.3 on two relays. He’s got a PB of 47.8 and I def wouldn’t rule out him getting on the medal stand here

Last edited 9 months ago by Leoyu
Bkkang
9 months ago

Does his world record still counts if the team “disqualified”?

Emily Se-Bom Lee
Reply to  Bkkang
9 months ago

all splits before the disqualifying leg are valid

Troyy
9 months ago

USA should win the medley relay comfortably

Joel
Reply to  Troyy
9 months ago

I think you said that about their men’s relay the other day 😂. But I should show you more respect because you are leading the pick ems 👍🏼

Troyy
Reply to  Joel
9 months ago

I did but who’s gonna beat them this time? Armstrong Fink Curzan Douglass is a monster team.

I miss the ISL
Reply to  Troyy
9 months ago

Armstrong Fink Curzan Douglass could win a medal, if not gold, at a normal worlds or Olympics. They’re a lock for gold here unless they DQ.

Troyy
Reply to  I miss the ISL
9 months ago

Something will go wrong now just to prove us wrong.

Timeout
9 months ago

China is the team to beat in mixed medley relay in Paris almost think its locked in.

Slow Swimmer X
Reply to  Timeout
9 months ago

And they’ll break GBR’smixed medley relay WR.

I miss the ISL
Reply to  Timeout
9 months ago

I don’t know, with the best options of Murphy/Armstrong, Fink, Huske/Curzan/Walsh, and Douglass/Weitzeil, the USA I think is still the ever so slight favorite. China still needs a woman freestyler who can go a 52 low, and Xu Jiayu needs to prove he can be consistent on the relays for me to say they’re the favorites. Yes, China beat them in Fukuoka, but that was with Torri Huske’s worst split of her life, and she’s looking great lately. It’ll be interesting.

Sub13
9 months ago

Cartwright is still on the start list so hoping I was wrong about him being sick!

Verram
Reply to  Sub13
9 months ago

where did you hear that?

Tencor
9 months ago

Pan is underratedly consistent, at least in the 100.

Top 100m Free times, 2023-24:

Pan Zhanle 46.80 WR
Pan Zhanle 46.97
Pan Zhanle 47.06
Kyle Chalmers 47.15
Pan Zhanle 47.22

Assuming he was simply “scratching while swimming” the 200 rather than legitimately falling ill, the only question is his winning time.

Slow Swimmer X
Reply to  Tencor
9 months ago

In my book, Pan is now the hot favorite for Paris 100 free.

Tencor
Reply to  Slow Swimmer X
9 months ago

If Paris was in March, yeah, but we’ve still got 5 months and who knows what can happen

‘Murica
Reply to  Slow Swimmer X
9 months ago

Hopefully Dressel and Pop are on form. Could be the race of the century.

Mr Piano
Reply to  ‘Murica
9 months ago

If Popovici is at his best, he could take it, but I’m worried about him getting bodied by the wash off the walls. He’s going to turn in the bottom 3 at the 50, but unlike Chalmers he seems to have trouble getting past the waves in crowded heats.

Last edited 9 months ago by Mr Piano
Robbos
Reply to  Slow Swimmer X
9 months ago

Yep, it’s Olympic year & we see lots of good swimmers put in extraordinary times in the next few months & Pan has started his.
At present he is the favourite for 100 free in Paris & for me personally it’s between Pan, Popovici & Chalmers.

Leoyu
Reply to  Tencor
9 months ago

Yeah he’s been really consistent in the 100 over the last year, and that’s not counting the two 46.6 relay splits he did as well. Unless he is actually sick (which he could be), he should win this no problem.

And he might have gotten sick from having had a low fever on day 1, I’m not sure. But I also feel like maybe he wouldn’t have punted the 200 if he didn’t have that outstanding performance in the 100. He was even pretty surprised by the time and didn’t feel like he gave it everything, and I think he might go all in on the 100 to see if he could do even better. If he swam three… Read more »

Slow Swimmer X
Reply to  Leoyu
9 months ago

Pan is smart by withdrawing from 200 free.

Troyy
Reply to  Leoyu
9 months ago

That’s what I think the plan is too including the 4×2! Strike while the iron is hot.

Troyy
Reply to  Tencor
9 months ago

With such consistency I wouldn’t bet on him underperforming in Paris.

Justin Pollard
Reply to  Tencor
9 months ago

Consistent but not at the meets the rest of the world shows up at. He isn’t challenged at the Asian games and won’t be challenged at this World championship. I think Pan is still a wildcard when it comes to top notch performances with the world watching.