Men’s 4×100 Free Relay
- 2012 Olympic Champion: France (Levaux, Gilot, Lefert, Agnel), 3:09.93
- 2015 World Champion: France (Metella, Manaudou, Gilot, Stravius), 3:10.74
- World Record (2008): USA (Phelps, Weber-Gale, Jones, Lezak), 3:08.24
At the past 2 Olympic games, one of the major headlines has been the rivalry between Team USA and France in the 4×100 free relay. In 2008, Jason Lezak anchored for the U.S. in a 46.0 to run down France in what was arguably one of the most exciting moments in Olympic history. In 2012, France’s Yannick Agnel turned the tables on the Americans, running down Ryan Lochte to seal the gold for his team.
While the rivalry continues this summer, a new team is in the mix. The Australians look like the team to beat, and will battle to claim their first men’s relay gold since the 2000 Games in Sydney. Team USA and Australia are both looking for redemption after neither team advanced to the final in this race at the 2015 World Championships. Despite a lackluster performance in Kazan, we could see both teams on the podium in Rio just one year later.
The top Australian 100 freestylers heading into the Games this summer are Cameron McEvoy and Kyle Chalmers. McEvoy is a dangerous weapon for the Aussies, owning the fastest textile 100 freestyle time in history with his 47.04 from Australian Nationals this year. Chalmers, a 19-year-old who resembles a young McEvoy at this point in his career, swam a lifetime best 48.03 to rank himself 8th in the world this year.
The next fastest Aussie this season is James Roberts, who swam a 48.32 to earn his place on the relay and narrowly miss an individual berth. Roberts was added to the Australian Olympic Roster, along with Matthew Abood and 2012 Olympic silver medalist James Magnussen, after their 4×100 free relay was officially confirmed for Rio. Abood put up the 4th fastest time at nationals with his 48.89, but Magnussen is the 4th fastest Australian overall this year with his 48.49 from an Australian Grand Prix meet in July. Magnussen had established himself as the fastest man ever in textile with his 47.10 from 2012, and it could go a long way towards helping Australia win the gold if can dip back into the 47-range.
Team USA will bring in Nathan Adrian and Caeleb Dressel for this relay, but the other 2 spots are still to be determined. Adrian swam a season best 47.72 at Trials that ranks him 2nd in the world, and Dressel put up a lifetime best 48.23 to qualify for his first Olympic team. In the past, Adrian has swum sub-47 splits multiple times and has established himself as a very reliable relay anchor. His most recent sub-47 split was a 46.69 at World in 2013. Last summer in Kazan, he anchored Team USA’s mixed 400 free relay in 47.29.
The other 4 men who qualified for the relay at U.S. Olympic trials were Ryan Held (48.26), Anthony Ervin (48.54), Jimmy Feigen (48.57), and Blake Pieroni (48.78). The coaching staff will have to take a look at their prelims splits and evaluate which swimmers are the best options for the finals relay. There’s also the question of whether or not Michael Phelps will swim this relay, which will probably stay up in the air until the day of the race. Phelps scratched the event at trials, so there’s not much we can use to indicate where he’s at in terms of his freestyle right now.
France, the defending Olympic champions in this race, bring 3 men who are ranked in the top 10 this year. Leading the way is Jeremy Stravius, who won French Nationals with a 47.97 for 5th in the world. Sitting in the 6th and 7th spots behind him with a pair of 48.0s are Florent Manaudou (48.00) and Clement Mignon (48.01). The 4th relay spot for France will likely go to Mehdy Metella, who swam a 48.43 at French Nationals. Yannick Agnel, the 2012 relay hero, will return to the Olympics for France, but probably won’t swim this relay.
The Brazilians will be looking to earn a medal on their home turf, and they’ve got Nicolas Oliviera and Auburn-based Marcelo Chierighini to help them do that. Chierighini is their fastest this season, leading the pack with a 48.20 from the Maria Lenk Trophy. Just a tenth behind him at that meet was Oliviera in 48.30. Joining them for the relay will be Joao De Lucca and Matheus Santana, who have season bests of 48.59 and 48.80, respectively. This is Brazil’s last big shot before they refresh a sprint group that’s been so good for so long – there will be a lot of cheering for the home team here, though it will be without Cesar Cielo.
Alexander Sukhorukov, a swimmer based out of Trojan Swim Club, will make the trip to Rio for Russia. Morozov is the fastest Russian of 2016, posting a 48.06 at Russian Trials to finish just ahead of Rio relay teammate Andrey Grechin (48.18). Sukhorukov (48.55) and Alexander Popkov (48.41) took the 3rd and 4th spots at trials, with a pair of 48-mids to qualify for the relay.
USC-based Vlad Morozov will be absent from Rio after being named in the WADA-sanctioned McLaren report. That’s a big blow to the Russian relay, as Morozov is the fastest Russian of 2016 with a 48.06, and blasted a 46.95 split on this relay for the Russians at 2015 Worlds. The Russians should still be good enough to final, but without Morozov, their medal chances have been significantly impacted.
Italy has a big weapon in this race with sub-48 sprinter Luca Dotto. Interestingly, Dotto has been significantly faster on relays than in his individual swims. At Italian Nationals, he set a new Italian Record with a 47.96 relay leadoff, half a second faster than he swam individually. The Italians were 3rd at Worlds last year, and will bring back Filippo Magnini from that relay. Joining them will be Luca Leonardi and NC State alum Jonathan Boffa.
Also heading into Rio with a season-best 47.96 is Ning Zetao, the reigning 100 free World Champion who will swim on the relay for China. The Chinese finished 7th in the World Championship final last summer, and will bring back Zetao and Hexin Yu from that relay. Yu is the 2nd fastest Chinese swimmer this year, with a season-best 48.47 from Chinese Nationals.
Japan, the 6th place team at 2015 Worlds, will enter the mix with Shinri Shioura as their big relay weapon. Shioura has been 48-low this year, swimming a 48.35 that ranks him 18th in the world. Also swimming sub-49 for the Japanese heading into Rio was Katsumi Nakamura, who cracked the top 25 with his 48.53.
Men’s 4×100 Free Relay Top 8 Predictions:
| Place | Team | Predicted Time |
| 1 | AUS | 3:09.7 |
| 2 | USA | 3:09.9 |
| 3 | RUS | 3:10.3 |
| 4 | FRA | 3:10.6 |
| 5 | BRA | 3:11.6 |
| 6 | ITA | 3:12.5 |
| 7 | JPN | 3:14.5 |
| 8 | CHN | 3:14.8 |
This was posted before the Us time trials in Atlanta.
I don’t want to be biased. I hope the Usa win. I think Phelps should be on the relay. 48.5 a couple of years ago would still place top 4 at trials right? And he is in much better shape since then.
47.8 Chase Kalisz
47.4 Jack Conger
47.2 Michael Phelps
46.9 Nathan Adrian
That could be what it would take to win.
3:09.3
I don’t think the Aussies are going to win in their current shape, but if you want to go with that to the US
48.0 Chase Kalisz
47.9 Ryan Held
47.6 Michael Phelps/ 48.2 Anthony Ervin
47.2
3:10.7/3:11.3
Will the Aussies even qualify for finals? They better put… Read more »
Care to explain your thoughts on Chase Kalisz?
I think he means Dressel.
Yes Dressel 0_0
Call this a “fresh” opinion, but this is the strongest France has looked in years. This is the first time their trials winner has gone sub48 since 2009, and the top 3 finishers are all faster than Agnel’s winning time in 2012 when they won this relay. This doesn’t make this team the favorites (at least on paper), but despite how spectacular Australia may look (still less formidable, with battle tested vulnerabilities with their lineup, than 4 years ago), it should be acknowledged that in the last 5 years France has, on every occasion, dropped significant time from their seeds. Let’s also not forget that Gilot has been the most consistent relay performer in the world since London. What we… Read more »
Man I could not agree more with this comment
Likewise, very well presented & hard to disagree. Australia has possibility of the 4 fastest swimmers, France have the best relay swimmers in the last 5 years, always battling above their seeding, the US, are traditionally the best relay swimmers & has the ability to time their run to perfection. This is going to be one hell of a race.
Russia is out of the picture with all the doping scandal. I say: USA, France and Brazil or Australia
I called it months ago and no one was believed. You heard it first here Magnussen will go the equivalent of a 47 high flat start swim in this relay.
I’m totally sick of the Magnussen bashing on this site. WTF did he do to you guys?
It’s got that bully bitchiness that gymnastic fans ( & judges ) get when
Gymnasts disappoint or woe- fall . Its been 4 years & he is still 2013 WC & Comm2014 champ.with the most sub 48s on the planet.
I’m hoping he leads off and does a “monster ” as redemption! Which continues onto a phenomenal world record against the mighty Frenchman!
I still want conger on both free relays for us
If the US wants gold in this relay, don’t use Conger and Phelps. Conger wont handle the pressure and Phelps’ freestyle hasn’t looked good in years.
I think Lauren is regretting she picked Russia over France now 🙂
I have to believe phelps is on this relay, as noted in a lot of posts his freestyle is not on point right now, but with the disappointment 2012, 2013 world champs, and not even making finals at worlds last year, and with bob being head coach, I think the GOAT finds that freestyle and leads off with 47 high, followed by held 47 mid, dressel 47 low and anchored to put it away by Adrian 46 mid, I think they get it done, and return to 4x100fr glory!
I agree that Phelps should be on the relay, but not leading off. Dressel has proven that his relay swims are not nearly as impressive as his flat start swims. He goes the same times, if that. His flat start is so explosive that it is practically equal to his relay start. Throw him on first.
Dressel – 48.1
Phelps – 47.4
Held – 47.4
Adrian – 46.6
If he’s not the 4th fastest US swimmer he shouldn’t receive any favouring.