Can Carson Foster Win 400 IM Gold At World Championships?

Carson Foster has been building a fan-base since he was 14 years old, back when he made the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials cut.  However, his 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials performance created a lot of naysayers, even though getting 3rd at U.S. Trials is still an impressive feat. Famously, later that summer at the Austin, Texas sectional meet, Carson dropped a 4:08.46 — a time that edged Chase Kalisz‘s effort for Olympic gold in the event.

At NCAA Champs this past spring fans expected more from Carson, and he delivered, ripping a 3:33.79 in the 400 IM. Of course that was a prelim swim, and he was edged in the final, touching 3rd in 3:35.69. That night my phone blew-up with text messages–endless harsh metaphors about how Carson couldn’t get it done when it mattered.

Carson got it done at the U.S. International Team Trials, wining the 400 IM in 4:09.33.   In this interview Carson details how Chase Kalisz has mentored him for the past six months, and he addresses his ups and downs and near misses, mostly chalking it up to maturity.

2022 Carson Foster World Champs Predictions:

Can he win gold in the 400 IM? Absolutely yes, but I don’t think so this summer. I’d love for Carson to prove me wrong, but my intel tells me Leon Marchand is the man to beat.  Both swimmers are showing momentum. Both could win depending on who is locked in-gear on race day.  In this post Olympic year,  I’m leaning into the “young talent momentum” netting both swimmers an edge over Diaya Seto and Chase Kalisz.   I’d like to see Carson swim a 4:08.22 for a personal best. Ill call that a silver medal. Making Team USA for World Champs was a big step forward. Making the podium in Budapest would be another pivotal step, and I see the Foster vs Marchand battle being one of the big stories on the march to Paris in 2024.

But who cares what I think. It’s all about what do you think? Drop your comments below.

CURRENT 400 IM WORLD RANKINGS

2021-2022 LCM Men 400 IM

LeonFRA
Marchand
06/18
4:04.28
2Carson
Foster
USA4:06.5606/18
3Chase
Kalisz
USA4:07.4706/18
4Ilya
Borodin
RUS4:08.0507/25
5Lewis
Clareburt
NZL4:08.7007/30
View Top 26»

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Opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the interviewed guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of the hosts, SwimSwam Partners, LLC and/or SwimSwam advertising partners.

This is a Gold Medal Media production presented by SwimOutlet.com. Host Gold Medal Mel Stewart is a 3-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a Swimming News website.

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PVK
2 years ago

4:06.9 in prelims, 4:10.xx in finals.

D&J Sports of Austin
2 years ago

Can he? Absolutely.

Will he? That’s why you race the race.

Hank
2 years ago

1- Seto
2- Kalisz
3- Marchand
4- Foster

Last edited 2 years ago by Hank
aquajosh
2 years ago

I think the battle is between Seto and Marchand, and Seto will win. He has a lot to prove after Tokyo, and I feel like this is the meet where he signals his return to the top of the medal dais.

ddd
2 years ago

Leon Marchand is the most popular gold medal candidate, but I like Daiya Seto to win the gold medal. Looking at his swimming at the Japan Open, I think he will swim from a minimum of 4 minutes and 8 seconds to a maximum of 4 minutes and 7 seconds

Fobby Binke
2 years ago

LMFAO.

Laughs in Leon Marchand and Daiya Seto.

Jamba Juice drinker 49
2 years ago

I’m not taking bets but my official odds are:
Carson foster not winning gold: -10000
Carson foster at some point in tears: -10000
With that being said, in no way do I set odds in Vegas.

Taa
2 years ago

Marchand has a lot of confidence right now. I think Mel is dead on.

Hank
Reply to  Taa
2 years ago

I don’t see a big long course time drop from Marchand. This isn’t NCAA. Seto and Kalisz have been 4:06 and 4:05 respectively in long course. Until dethroned they are still the men to beat in this event. Carson’s best shot is if everyone swims slow and the times are more similar to Tokyo

Last edited 2 years ago by Hank
Troyy
Reply to  Hank
2 years ago

Kalisz’s 4:05 was a very long time ago. The best he’s gone in the last 4 years is 4:09 so I would say he also needs it to be slow like Tokyo.

Taa
Reply to  Hank
2 years ago

You can’t just jump on the blocks and revert back to your lifetime best. Leon beat Carson in the event by a second and a half in March and he won the 200Br and outsplits Carson in the 200Fr 1:29.9 to 1:31.

About Gold Medal Mel Stewart

Gold Medal Mel Stewart

MEL STEWART Jr., aka Gold Medal Mel, won three Olympic medals at the 1992 Olympic Games. Mel's best event was the 200 butterfly. He is a former World, American, and NCAA Record holder in the 200 butterfly. As a writer/producer and sports columnist, Mel has contributed to Yahoo Sports, Universal Sports, …

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