2017 FINA WORLD SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Sunday, July 23rd – Sunday, July 30th
- Budapest, Hungary
- LCM (50m)
- Full Competition Schedule
- Meet Info
- Psych Sheets
- Omega Results
- Pick ’em Contest
- Event-by-Event Previews
The British quartet of Stephen Milne (1:47.25), Nicholas Grainger (1:46.05), Duncan Scott (1:44.60), and James Guy (1:43.80) stunned the Americans and the Russians, who had battled for supremacy over the first half of the race, to win the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay in 7:01.70. Team USA (Blake Pieroni, Townley Haas, Jack Conger, and Zane Grothe) led by a 1.6-second margin heading into the fourth leg of the relay, but were overtaken by both Great Britain and Russia on the final 200 meters.
Watch the full race, courtesy of NBC Sports, below:
Write-up from Lauren Neidigh:
MEN’S 4×200 FREE RELAY – FINAL
- World Record: USA, 6:58.55, 2009
- Championship Record: USA, 6:58.55, 2009
- Junior World Record: USA, 7:13.76, 2015
- GOLD: GBR- 7:01.70
- SILVER: RUS- 7:02.68
- BRONZE: USA- 7:03.18
Russia and the USA traded the lead through the first 3 legs, with Townley Haas (1:44.58) and Jack Conger (1:45.37) putting up the fastest splits for the Americans. The USA had the lead heading into the final leg, but Great Britain’s James Guy blasted a 1:43.80 anchor split to give the Brits the gold, while Russia’s Alexander Krasnykh (1:44.80) moved them up into 2nd place. Zane Grothe (1:46.90) held on to help the Americans to bronze.
It will be interesting to see what the coaches say about their choices and why they made them. Grothe taking a lot of blame for a lack of depth on the team on the 200 distance. In my opinion, Dwyer only swam at Nationals to make the national team (and team benefits) and not specifically to be the main guy on the 4 x 200. Obviously in training camp, his lack of preparation made the coaches not consider him viable for both prelims and finals. Troy must have been a strong voice to keep Caleb off the finals to save him for bigger finals the next day.
Young guys didn’t step up this year to fill the opportunity left… Read more »
That’s not an upset. USA would never have been the betting favorite, not if the known variables were available to a sharp market. I lived in Las Vegas for 25 years and worked as sportsbook supervisor.
Anyway, it was discouraging to understand the USA had a big lead and no chance. Grothe as anchor was bizarre, like waterly masochism. The idea is to hide your weakest link, not magnify it.
This reminds me of 2012 when the USA men’s 4 x 400 track relay was briefly vulnerable due to injuries and absences. It was obvious that it wouldn’t last long but nothing could be done to Band Aid the problem in the short term.
It was his first World Championships. He was in stacked events at Trials so it’s not like he could just not go all in for Trials. Tapering at meets so close together like that is tricky for some people and this is his first experience at this level. He was less than a second off his best time and he’s really not a 200 freestyler so that is not a good enough reason to blame the guy and smear his name.
Really Rowdy? A huge win for the US?
GBR!!!!!! Just beautiful.
Terrible Choices? The coaches made a big gamble on Conger that paid off big time, and who would have been faster than Grothe? If they hadn’t put Conger on the relay, they don’t win any medal.
I do not think placing Conger was as you have said–a big gamble. He did a 1:45 individual time race in trials, which was after the 200 free race–where he tanked, and as was already on the team for winning the 200 fly.
I also agree with many others in thinking what the hell placing Grothe as the anchor? That makes no sense. I can fault the coaches in placing him in the finals, resigning not being bold and losing Gold, but I think of an anchor as a privilege or honor. Grothe has no distinction to be an anchor on 200 free relay. I do not get it, are the coaches on drugs?
The Assassin smells that smell he so likes….truth…in the air!! An upset?! Come on! Haven’t seen the race but as predicted, a crack and hungry British quartet took care of 4 200m business…as they could, should and did! Well done! But we all know that a USA team leading by 1.6sec or so with the anchor of Phe….no, Ry….uh oh!! Nope..Zane 1.46 Gro….doesn’t cut it. All will learn from this as it’s an event where consistency and speed pay dividends. Bronze doesn’t suit a US team either. Beware…..!!Well done Russia!! I wrote on Rylov’s 200m BK stroke being a spring board. …a great night for Russia with Efimova in there!!
Grothe was within a second of his best, no reason to rip him like that. He swam fine this week but isn’t a 200 guy. Aside from Dressel, there’s no one else on the roster who could be expected to go faster. Smith and Litherland went 1:47s this morning and I don’t think Kalisz has broken 1:50 in his life (granted, he’s never raced this at a big meet). But seriously… it’s temporary. I wrote a longer post on the other thread, but between Dwyer, Lochte, Dressel and a slew of up-and-comers, someone or two will step up or five in. The USA will do just fine in this relay going forward.
Thank you.
I don’t like criticizing the abilities of swimmers since I’m not one, but I do think the coaches made a strategic error placing an inexperienced racer as the anchor. Should’ve had Pieroni start, hand off to Kalisz, then Conger, and then Haas. Would’ve gotten silver at least.
I have seen a lot of people pitch Kalisz for this relay and I have no idea why… he has never been a candidate or done anything to suggest he could go 1:46.
Putting Kalisz on the relay would’ve probably been a more logical risk than to put Grothe as anchor. Remember when Dirado was put on the women’s 4×200 in Rio even though she didn’t qualify for it in Trials? Kalisz was relatively fresh compared to the other guys, especially Grothe, who had already swum 2 400s, 2 800s, and a 200.