Women’s 4×200 Free Relay Prelims Lineups: Lani Pallister Set to Return After COVID Withdrawal

2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

• Pool Swimming: July 27 – August 4, 2024
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• La Défense Arena — Paris, France
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• Prelims Live Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5
• Finals Live Recaps: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5

WOMEN’S 4×200 FREESTYLE RELAY START LIST

This morning’s prelims session will conclude with the women’s 4×200 free relay. The start lists for the event are posted above. There are 16 total teams competing in the event.

Starting with the top seed, Australia, this is what their relay looks like this morning.

1. Lani Pallister
2. Jamie Perkins
3. Brianna Throssell
4. Shayna Jack

Most notably, it looks like Lani Pallister is back in action this morning after having to pull out of the women’s 1500 free a few days ago because of a positive COVID test. It was reported that Pallister was aiming to recover in time for this relay after missing the mile, and it looks like she’s done just that. She’s been given the opportunity to lead the Australian team off and help them earn a lane for tonight.

Shayna Jack is looking to anchor this relay and potentially earn a spot on the finals relay tonight after finishing 5th in the 100 free final last night.

The Aussies will have gold and silver medalists Mollie O’Callaghan and Ariarne Titmus waiting to join the relay tonight in finals.

Moving on to the US relay, here is what the Americans are working with:

1. Anna Peplowski
2. Erin Gemmell
3. Simone Manuel
4. Alex Shackell

The US coaching staff is giving rising Indiana senior Anna Peplowski the nod to lead-off the relay this morning. Peplowski came in 5th at the US Olympic Trials with a 1:57.04, and holds a career best of 1:56.99 from April of this year. This swim will mark her first of the meet.

Erin Gemmell, the 4th-place finisher from US Trials (1:56.75) will be going 2nd. Notably, Gemmell swam a 1:56.53 in semifinals of the 200 free at Trials.

Simone Manuel got bumped into this relay after her 7th-place finish at Trials, and is being given the opportunity for 3rd this morning. Manuel usually gets out with a lot of speed in the 200, so it will just be a matter of how well she can hold up.

The anchor is going to 17-year-old Alex Shackell, who was 6th at US Trials in 1:57.05. Shackell is competing in the women’s 200 fly final tonight as well.

Notably, Katie Ledecky, Claire Weinstein, and Paige Madden are not on the relay this morning, and will presumably be on the relay tonight, which means there is only 1 spot up for grabs on tonight’s finals relay.

Defending Olympic champion China will have the following relay this morning:

1. Tang Muhan
2. Kong Yaqi
3. Ge Chutong
4. Liu Yaxin

China was something of a surprise winner in the event in Tokyo, so we’ll see what they can do here in Paris. Of note, Kong is just 16 years old.

Great Britain will be looking to make some noise and possibly grab a medal tonight as well, but their first goal will be to secure a lane:

1. Freya Anderson
2. Abbie Wood
3. Lucy Hope
4. Medi Harris