Captured by D’Artagnan Dias.
Produced by Coleman Hodges.
Reported by Mitch Bowmile.
MEN’S 4X100M FREESTYLE RELAY FINAL
Start List: click here
Top Seed: 3:12.04 – Russia
World Record: 3:08.24 (2008) – USA
Olympic Record: 3:08.24 (2008) – USA
2012 Olympic Champion: 3:09.93 – France
The Americans finally were able to redeem themselves after losing the Olympic gold to the French at the 2012 Olympic Games.
Caeleb Dressel dove in for the States and got things started, not exactly leading, but putting them in the position they needed to be in the hunt for the gold. After Dressel, Michael Phelps dove in, and threw down a thunderous 47.12 split in order to put the Americans way out in front.
That split for Phelps is the fastest he’s ever been in his career, foreshadowing just how fast he could be this time around in his individual events.
Ryan Held kept things moving for the Yanks as he handed the reigns to Nathan Adrian. Adrian exploded on the final 50 to give the Americans the win in 3:09.92.
France was second in 3:10.53, Australia was third in 3:11.37
- USA – 3:09.92
- France – 3:10.53
- Australia – 3:11.37
- Russia – 3:11.64
- Brazil – 3:13.21
- Belgium – 3:13.57
- Canada – 3:14.35
- Japan – 3:14.48
That’s why they always underperform at Olympic stage. They are just lack of that hungry attitude. “bronze is fine, i am happy with that , etc etc…” That kind of attitude comparing with USA “chasing to death” attitude, no wonder they can only get bronze, I mean they could get nothing thanks and lucky they have Chalmers & McEvoy.
I am not criticizing Roberts & Maggie, They both have story, they trained so hard to come back. BUT.. I just feel they are not that kind of player for Olympics. in London they had already paid the price but they didn’t learn from that.
Roberts, lead off, 48.88, what a joke, I mean you could randomly find anyone… Read more »
Magnussen has had a lot of injuries just like Eamon Sullivan. He is very young and their is no reason why he shouldn’t still be on top. I have to wonder if he Aussies are overtraining their sprinters.
Male sprinters
What’s the possibility of Australia pushing back their trials similar to the US?
Six weeks seems to work magic for the US. Not too short to continue to improve and not too long to loose the high of making the team.
Wish I could find video of all of these press conference interviews rather than just clips. Would be interested in what all was said by all the different athletes.
We call that a little white lie, but he’s being very gracious. It’s also an interesting window into how these world-class swimmers see their window of opportunity as getting longer.
Don’t think they, or more specifically he and Roberts, should be thrilled with their performances but bronze was realistically the highest they could’ve aspired to. Quite simply, any relay carrying 1.5 passengers has no business contending for Olympic gold. All those who were propounding them as gold contenders or favourites were frankly living in “cloud cuckoo land” in that they were operating off an assumption of Magnussen pre-op, NOT the reality of post-op Magnussen.
I Think Sullivan could still be good for a sub 48 split.
Sullivan’s shoulders were completely “shot to bits”. Personally I might’ve brought along William Stockwell (son of Mark -1984 silver medallist- and Tracy Caulkins) who was 6th at Trials after some significant PBs. At least there would’ve been the possibility of a positive outcome ….. something that went right out the window with Roberts’ selection.
I would have brought Stockwell for the experience alone. But, after seeing his results from the US Open, and I hate to say this, I’m not sure he would have been much of a factor.
That;s actually fair enough. In all honesty he hadn’t shown much until Trials where we suddenly started seeing 49s then a sub49. In all honesty, AUS sprint depth is non existent once you go past McEvoy & Chalmers. There’s plenty of 49ish; many being juniors who have never kicked on.
You’re right on the money mate. The media in Australia always exaggerates our chances and piles up unreasonable expectation. A bronze medal was the limit, I also shared your skepticism with regards to Magnussen(his ability to cut time from trials) and Roberts(his ability to deliver his best on the international stage). There was always huge question marks. Chalmers and McEvoy were strong enough to get the team on the podium. I predicted who would finish 1-2-3 in the comments of an earlier article and had it US-FRA-AUS. What a super team effort by the US, congratulations to those men.
The talk about Magnussen swimming on past these Olympics is interesting. It must be frustrating for him, knowing how much… Read more »
With these remarks, the Missile is showing a lot more class than his teammate Mack Horton. I’m very glad Horton defeated Sun, and everyone knows what Horton thinks about dopers, but I think it’s time for him to take the high road. IMHO.
He is taking the high road, he’s not doping. Keeping quiet is the problem and ensures that this keeps happening. More power to the “surly Shirleys” of the world who keep a spotlight on this and a big “shame on you” to those who keep quiet.
Seriously! Someone like a phelps SHOULD have the stones to make a stand for these things. It shouldn’t be the young guns King and Horton who have the wits to speak out, these veterans need to step it up and take a stand before our sport collapses. Russia even being on the deck at all is a major slap in the face that shouldn’t be taken lying down! Bravo King! Bravo Horton!
As a former drug user himself (non performance enhancing), would he have a leg to stand on?
Did you miss the interview and article here where he said he’s never competed against clean athletes?
You have shown how stupid you can be in that response. Mack Horton called out an individual who has tested Positive. Sun “Positive” Yang got away with a slap on the wrist. Why should athletes be quiet about the likes of Yang, Efimova, Morozov, Lobintsev, Cielo etc etc????? They should all have been banned from competing.
I give kudos to Mack for speaking up. More athletes should. The fact that Sun is allowed to swim is a disgrace, a disgrace to the systems in place in China, a disgrace to the Olympics and a disgrace to swimmers everywhere
Oh James I don’t think so….