2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES
- When: Pool swimming: Saturday, July 24 – Sunday, August 1, 2021
- Open Water swimming: Wednesday, August 4 – Thursday, August 5, 2021
- Where: Olympic Aquatics Centre / Tokyo, Japan
- Heats: 7 PM / Semifinals & Finals: 10:30 AM (Local time)
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It’s time to read way too much into what went down during Day 2 prelims in Tokyo, with a couple of notable British misses, a smooth looking 16-year-old, and a potential relay upset among the emerging storylines on Sunday evening.
Brits Miss 400 Free Relay Final
A pair of key misses from Great Britain on Day 2 is headlined by the men’s 400 freestyle relay, as the coaches opted to leave off both Duncan Scott and Tom Dean and paid for it as they finished .04 outside of a finals position in ninth.
The only glaringly-weak split for the Brits came from Joe Litchfield, who went 49.41 swimming third, digging Jacob Whittle a hole he couldn’t climb out of despite a 47.50 anchor.
The team finished in an overall time of 3:13.17, with the ROC team (Russia) 3:13.13 to eke into Lane 8 for the final.
Scott and Dean did have the men’s 200 free prelims earlier in the session, which certainly would’ve factored into the decision to leave both off the relay.
The British men have only become a player on the world stage in the 400 free relay recently, not even fielding a time at the either the 2016 Olympics or 2017 World Championships before finishing fifth at the 2019 Worlds.
That was followed by a silver medal and new National Record two months ago at the European Championships, as Dean, Matthew Richards, James Guy and Scott combined for a time of 3:11.56. That put them at least in the conversation to vie for a medal in Tokyo, but that chance is now lost.
Making the situation worse is the fact that Litchfield was held out of the men’s 100 backstroke heats in order to swim the relay, and his personal best time of 53.75 would’ve snuck him into the semi-finals.
The lone British entry in the 100 back was Luke Greenbank, who added four tenths to his PB and narrowly missed earning a second swim, clocking 53.79 to tie for 17th overall. A scheduled swim-off with Italian Simone Sabbioni was cancelled, and the start lists for Monday morning’s finals session indicate Greenbank has conceded the first alternate position to Sabbioni.
Greenbank is considered a favorite by many to win bronze in the 200 back later in the competition, and either he or Litchfield will be relied upon heavily at the end of the meet in the men’s 400 medley relay.
Popovici Smoothly Advances In 200 Free
Appearing to be almost immune to pressure, Romania’s David Popovici had a flawless Olympic debut in the men’s 200 free heats, putting together an effortless 1:45.32 to qualify fourth into the semi-finals.
The 16-year-old set a new Romanian Record earlier this month at the European Junior Championships in 1:45.26, but was only seeded with a time of 1:48.38, which placed him in the non-circle-seeded second heat.
That forced Popovici to take it upon himself to go fast enough to advance to the next round, but he had no problems at all, and any concerns of struggling with a double-taper after Euro Juniors have been quickly washed away.
He’s now a premier contender to medal in the 200 free, which several had forecasted after that 1:45.2 a few weeks ago, and the anticipation only builds for his eventual 100 free showdown with the likes of Caeleb Dressel and Kyle Chalmers. (Chalmers had a great start to the meet of his own, splitting 46.63 on Australia’s prelim 400 free relay.)
South Korea’s Hwang Sunwoo was the top qualifier out of the men’s 200 free, as the 18-year-old lowered his World Junior Record down to 1:44.62.
Italian Men In Prime Position In 400 Free Relay
The Italians were far and away the fastest team in the men’s 400 free relay heats, blasting a new National Record of 3:10.29 to qualify first for the final by over a second.
Italy has always been competitive in this event, usually in the final, but they’ve never won an Olympic medal in the men’s 400 free relay and have only claimed one medal over the previous six World Championships.
That all looks like it’s going to change on Monday morning, as Italy was spotless with all four of their swimmers splitting under 48 seconds, including lead-off man Alessandro Miressi missing his National Record by .01 on the opening leg (47.46).
The Americans sit second in 3:11.33, and will bring in two-time world champion Caeleb Dressel for the final. Exchanging Dressel for Brooks Curry, the U.S. could be up to two seconds faster than their prelim time if the rest of the teams holds steady, with Dressel owning a best of 46.96 and Curry having gone 48.84 in the prelims.
Nonetheless, the Italians look great.
Notable Finals/Semi Misses
- Women’s 100 Back: Anastasiya Shkurdai (BLR)*
- Men’s 200 Free: Katsuhiro Matsumoto (JPN), Ji Xinjie (CHN), Elijah Winnington (AUS), Ivan Girev (RUS), Dominik Kozma (HUN)
- Women’s 100 Breast: Kanako Watanabe (JPN), Reona Aoki (JPN), Jessica Hansen (AUS), Alia Atkinson (JAM), Kierra Smith (CAN), Tes Schouten (NED), Benedetta Pilato (ITA)*
- Men’s 100 Back: Luke Greenbank (GBR), Simone Sabbioni (ITA), Markus Thormeyer (CAN),
- Women’s 400 Free: Tamsin Cook (AUS), Ajna Kesely (HUN), Anastasiia Kirpichnikova (RUS), Anna Egorova (RUS), Merve Tuncel (TUR)
- Men’s 400 Free Relay: Great Britain
*Shkurdai was a DNS in the 100 back; Pilato was disqualified in the 100 breast
Britain’s coaches getting a bit too cute for me. Litchfield-Whittle-Guy-Richards always looked a bit soft. I understand that it would be ideal to rest Scott and Dean but a big part of Olympics is team momentum.
I’m not sat here now thinking ‘Oh great, Scott and Dean don’t have to swim the final tonight – even more rest’. I reckon they swim better in their own 200 and in the 200 relay having the experience of an 400 relay Olympic final and even possibly a medal. There’s more pressure on them now; not less.
Olympic medal chances are precious and there’s nothing more deflating than not leaving your best in the water.
Agree, huge miscalculation. Bummer for Brit fans. Curious… are coaches getting blasted in UK media?
Not really. It’s possible to over-estimate how much media attention there is on swimming. ‘Swimming coaches should be crucified’ isn’t headline news on the BBC anyhow!
The prevailing argument is that Dean / Scott could win gold in the 200m and the relay was really a shot at bronze. So they risked the latter to help the former.
I just worry that this actually doesn’t help the 200m. It looks like common sense but it creates a culture of pressure and anxiety. You have to make hay while the sun shines.
Totally agree far too cute and salaries to match
As stated earlier far too much favouritism being placed in luff swimmers
As for the 4x 200 can they risk either litchfield in the prelims
Common sense and times stated KURLE should have been selected this would at least give lane 4 or 5 for final
As for the medley no choice but to swim greenbank in prelims at best silver USA to win,Peaty cannot make up for the deficit in all other strokes
Change of guard needed at the top neither the top two have any ethics or social skills
Let the media have their say “crucify them “
Agree on how gutting it was GB didn’t get through (particularly given the margin), and also that coaches need to wake up a bit, but I don’t think GB is out of a gold conversation on the medley relay just yet.
Yes Greenbank only went 57.7, but Murphy also only went 53.2 in the heats. Can Murphy drop time? Sure, but after only heats I’d say he’s still a long way off 51.8. Equally Michael Andrew hasn’t yet replicated his trials performances in 100 breast, so I’d say the door is still open for GB to sneak in a win IF things don’t drastically change from the USA’s side.
Murphy never goes hard in the heats.
If memory serves, Murphy was 53.1 at US Trials prelims and 52.2 in semis, so tonight should be a good indicator of how he feels this week. Not a lot of room for error in 100 back this year for top guys, even just to final.
And… all eyes on Peaty margin of victory and margin vs MIchael Andrew or Andrew Wilson.
Medley Relay odds MIGHT be a little clearer in a few hours. Will be fascinating.
overreacting: Bowe Becker 46.9 split incoming
I would disagree with some of the misses with regards to semi finals / finals, ex. Merve Tuncel (TUR) comes in with a personal best of 4:06.24 and it took 4:04.0. She might not have done a personal best time but she would have had to drop 2.2 seconds from 2 weeks ago to make it in. I do not call that a missed final, maybe a missed best time.
Hwang Sunwoo looked smooth on that 1:44.62. Popovici again great swim in clear water and might get a 1:44 and make it a race with Sunwoo.
My overreactions
Women’s 100 back
Smith looked a lot better than Trials, but her stroke still seems more forced and less natural than it was in 2019.
I still think McKeown walks away with this
Men’s 200 free
Popovici looked great in that 200, making me feel alright about picking him to win the event in my Pickems.
Hwang looked very good, but I’m not sure he has much more to give.
Kieran Smith didn’t look all that great
I’m still Popovici FTW in this event honestly.
100 breast
King looked like she was working hard. Concerning swim.
Schoenmaker… um, wow. WR watch in the 200?
Pilato, IDK I saw no evidence of any 29.30 speed, not… Read more »
I think swimming the 400 final the morning of the 200 prelim is tough.
Kieran was the only one that was in that situation that advanced actually.
Rapsys and Malyutin missed the final in the 400 so they were fresher.
Team Great Britain has temporarily commandeered the choke label from Australia.
So dumb this morning. They could’ve stuck Duncan Scott on the anchor and if they were in a good position he could coast his leg. Richards and Whittle were outstanding, especially as they are 18 and 16. Guy was ok, not his best. Joe Litchfield was a complete disaster.
Would love to have seen a team of Matt Richards (48.2 lead-off), Jacob Whittle (47.5 split this morning), Tom Dean (48.3 flat start) and Duncan Scott (splits 46’s most years).
Would’ve been a medal contender for sure.
Totally agree the problem is with spice and Furness and all the others who would appear to favour the luff swimmers
Medal count will be lower with only Gold coming from Peaty
Time to wise up British swimming, select your fastest swimmers
Unless the selection is correct for the 4×200 the potential 24k medal is in jeopardy
Too much hype
I have never been so excited before for Italy’s chances in Olympic swimming relays. We are legitimate contenders to a medal in both the men’s 4×100 free and the men’s medley relay. If all stars align.
Good luck!
By the way, congrats on winning UEFA Euro 2020/2021. “It’s coming Rome!”
You have 3, proven to be in shape, fantastic legs in the medley, what are your thoughts on Burdisso?
He is at the moment our weak leg, although he might surprise us. But three very good legs out of 4 might do the trick for a minor medal
Looks like Santo C. made the right move
I don’t think Santo will have the honor to swim the final, though. They will go with Ceccon me thinks
He will still get a medal, so not that bad I guess. He could walk away with another in the medley relay as well based on how their BK, BR and FR legs have looked thus far.
And very interesting, I think Italy made a very safe relay exchange in all swimmers:0.33,0.31 and 0.3.
I remember in Beijing when the Men’s Medley relay happened and Dan Hicks said that the Italians were “not expected to contend”. Oh how things have changed…
What happened to the lane line pull at olympics article that was posted for a few minutes?
Let them post!
Let them post!
See Braden’s comment.