Day 4 Relay Lineups: Phelps In, Conger Out On U.S. 800 Free Relay

2016 RIO OLYMPIC GAMES

The relay lineups for tonight’s 800 free relay for men have been released, and what has been speculated all day has happened, Michael Phelps has been named to the American lineup for the final of the 800 free relay. Phelps takes the spot of Jack Conger, who actually had the fastest split on the prelim relay of 1:45.73. Ryan Lochte, who split 1:45.80 in the heats, will also swim the final.

Phelps and Lochte will swim together in the 800 free relay final for the fourth consecutive Olympics, winning gold on all three previous occasions in 2004, 2008 and 2012. The two of them will join Conor Dwyer and Townley Haas on the relay.

  1. Belgium (L.Croenen, D.Dekoninck, G.Surgeloose, P.Timmers)
  2. Japan (K.Hagino, N.Ehara, Y.Kobori, T.Matsuda)
  3. Russia (D.Izotov, A.Krasnykh, N.Lobintsev, M.Dovgalyuk)
  4. Great Britain (S.Milne, D.Scott, D.Wallace, J.Guy)
  5. United States (C.Dwyer, T.Haas, R.Lochte, M.Phelps)
  6. Germany (F.Vogel, C.Fildenbrandt, C.Rapp, P.Biedermann)
  7. Australia (T.Fraser-Holmes, D.McKeon, D.Smith, M.Horton)
  8. Netherlands (D.Dreesens, M.Brzoskowski, K.Stolk, S.Verschuren)

Other than the Americans addition of Phelps, the biggest surprise here is the absence of Cameron McEvoy on the Australian team. After tying for the win at Aussie Trials in the 200 free, McEvoy dropped the individual event, but still said he was focusing on the 800 free relay.

With the men’s 100 free semi-finals taking place during the same session, McEvoy won’t swim. David McKeon joins the lineup replacing Jacob Hansford.

The Belgians have moved out Emmanuel Vanluchene for Pieter Timmers, the Russians have replaced Viacheslav Andrusenko for Danila Izotov, and the top seeded Brits have removed Robbie Renwick in favor of James Guy.

All three additions were expected, but it is a bit of a surprise that Vanluchene came out of the Belgian lineup and not Louis Croenen, who has the 200 fly final tonight. Both swam very similar legs this morning.

The Germans and Dutch have also made one move each, as Christoph Fildebrandt and Sebastiaan Verschuren come in and Jacob Heidtmann and Ben Schwietert move out.

Japan is the only team that stands pat with their lineup from the morning, led by Kosuke Hagino.

 

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Anne Kelley
7 years ago

Jack Conger deserves another event. This was disgraceful and should be investigated as to why the fastest swimmer in the qualifying race was dropped from that final race.

Harris
7 years ago

The worst decision ever not to have Jack swim. He clearly earned it. I think MP just wanted another medal. And Lochte was slower!! SO UNFAIR!!

Pythagoras
7 years ago

Way to go Team USA…”It’s not about the name on the back, but the name on the front that counts” – Herb Brooks

Tio Roberto
7 years ago

Phelps bumped several guys like Conger (200m fly) from first-time individual Olympics by coming out of retirement. No doubt Phelps deserves to be in the Olympics and top of the world. But it’s ridiculous then that he and his coach felt he needed this relay nod too. Here’s to Conger kicking a$$ in 2018 and 2020, along with the rest of his generation.

Tio Roberto
Reply to  Tio Roberto
7 years ago

Post race follow-up: I should add that Phelps most definitely carried his weight. And Lochte right on-point in the post-race NBC interview reminding viewers of the credit due to the other 3 prelim swimmers. Class.

Dino
Reply to  Tio Roberto
7 years ago

I guess because Lochte felt bad about Conger.

Tigerswim22
7 years ago

There were critics who asserted Michael Phelps should not have a place on our 400 freestyle relay. His performance was probably the game breaker – helping the USA win the gold medal. His split was almost as fast as Nathan’s. Now the coaching staff has picked him to swim on the 800 freestyle relay in the Olympic championship final. Wonder why?? He’s the greatest swimmer in the history of the sport. He’s a phenomenal relay swimmer. He’s won Olympic gold individually in the 200 (never did that in the 100, but was magnificent on our sprint relay). He knows how to WIN, and makes everyone on his relay a little bit better cause having him as an ace in the… Read more »

New York
7 years ago

Ledecky will have enough money from sponsors to by some toothpaste

jem
7 years ago

I’m loving the “oooh he trains so hard…he deserves this so much……poor guy” comments. Love the fact that armchair critics here think they know better than the US coaches. Hilarious.

Shawn Meyer
Reply to  jem
7 years ago

Well, Lochte just went a 1:46 flat – slower (again) than Conger – good thing that Guy wasn’t any closer!

Shawn Meyer
Reply to  jem
7 years ago

Coaches missed this one!

PowerPlay
7 years ago

Tough but good decision by coaches. Lochte and Phelps are proven performers with lots of experience in world championship competition. Congers day should come, but doesn’t have the results on international stage. NCAAa not of same caliber of Olympics. Conger gets his medal from a solid prelim swim.

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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