Olympic Champion Mack Horton Misses 400 Free Worlds Qualification

2019 AUSTRALIAN WORLD SWIMMING TRIALS

After this morning’s heats, the men’s 400m freestyle appeared to be a battle between Olympians Jack McLoughlin and Mack Horton, the latter of whom had won the event at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

But 23-year-old Horton couldn’t match pace with McLoughlin, as the Chandler freestyle ace surged to the wall comfortably in first in a mark of 3:44.34. That time easily dips under the Aussie-mandated QT of 3:46.14, punching McLoughlin’s ticket to Gwangju. Horton, however, missed the mark, settling for silver well behind in 3:46.47.

The pair finished in the same sequence at last year’s Pan Pacific Championships, proving that McLoughlin’s win there in Tokyo was no fluke.

McLoughlin simply out-swum the competition tonight, leading wire-to-wire. His time of 3:44.34 checks-in as the 2nd fastest mark of his career, with the aforementioned win in Tokyo sitting as his quickest ever in 3:44.20.

As for Horton, the Melbourne Vicentre swimmer’s time of 3:46.47 is well off his 3:44.31 from the aforementioned race, but also indicative of how the Olympic gold medalist has fared in the last year or so. Horton hasn’t cracked 3:50 in 2019, with his last outing in that territory happening at Pan Pacs.

With his absence, Horton represents a medalist from 2017 World Championships who will not be racing in the same event in Gwangju.

Horton still has a chance to qualify for Worlds in the 200m and 800m free, if he can shake off this misfire and re-focus.


											
										

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mike
5 years ago

What is more important the 2019 worlds or 2020 Olympics?

straightblackline
5 years ago

Mack Horton has talent as he demonstrated in Rio but he’s always been inconsistent. Didn’t he go into the 2015 WC’s ranked number one and failed to qualify for the final? Sadly he seems to be on a downward trajectory. He might get to swim the 400FS if he makes the 4X200FS team but I can’t see him being a factor. McLoughlin though continues to impress. There’s no doubt he’s now Australia’s number one middle/distance freestyler.

John26
5 years ago

At this point there doesn’t seem to be another swimmer who can go 3:42low. Sun can probably squeeze a 3:42.0 and win next year without much dificulty

bear drinks beer
Reply to  John26
5 years ago

Fun statistics: Only 7 swimmers have been under 3:42 in history and 3 (or 4) of them only did it with supersuit.

Paul Biedermann 3:40.07 #
Ian Thorpe 3:40.08
Sun Yang 3:40.14
Ous Mellouli 3:41.11 #
Lin Zhang 3:41.35 #
Park Tae Hwan 3:41.53
Mack Horton 3:41.55

Crannman
Reply to  bear drinks beer
5 years ago

Really puts into perspective just how incredible Thorpe was, especially in the 400m free.

Old Man Chalmers
Reply to  Crannman
5 years ago

Thorpe’s 3:41.83 in a jammer at 16 remains more impressive than any swim in the same event today

Old Man Chalmers
Reply to  Old Man Chalmers
5 years ago

in briefs*

Admin
Reply to  Old Man Chalmers
5 years ago

Here’s the finish of that 400 – in briefs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jnz08P6sQEQ

Ol’ Gator
Reply to  bear drinks beer
5 years ago

Crazy how in 2009 Lin Zhang got 3rd in that race with a 3:41.3

Mr Piano
Reply to  Ol’ Gator
5 years ago

Thorpe would have been 3:37 if he had a super suit.

Admin
Reply to  Mr Piano
5 years ago

I don’t know if I buy 3:37. His 3:40, afterall, was done in way more suit than anybody else was wearing at the time. I’d call 3:38-mid if I was putting money on it.

HellOfSwim
Reply to  bear drinks beer
5 years ago

Thorpe was supersuited too. Used even one with long legs and arms

Robbos
Reply to  HellOfSwim
5 years ago

No he was not!!!!

Troy
Reply to  HellOfSwim
5 years ago

Not a supersuit.

Laps
Reply to  HellOfSwim
5 years ago

If Thorpe’s suit gave him an extreme advantage you better believe that everyone else would have been swimming in the same or similar suits, like we saw during the polyurethane suit years.

Joe
Reply to  John26
5 years ago

This event has really stagnated on the international level. For the US it’s one of the weakest events too. I’m sure we’ll have two guys around 3:44-3:45 at trials but 20 years after Thorpe you’d think we could get a little closer to him. Hopefully I’m proved wrong though.

Markster
5 years ago

i have a gut feeling his lifetime best will always be his performance in Rio. I hope im wrong

Marmot
Reply to  Markster
5 years ago

If that’s the case, his “lifetime best” produced a Gold medal in the Olympics. Seems tk. Me he can perform under the most intense pressure. That’s a hell of a lot better than almost every other human who has ever lived.

Incredible swimmer, seems like an even better guy.

Troy
Reply to  Marmot
5 years ago

Yeah, but a male swimmer shouldn’t be peaking in their teens.

Articuno
Reply to  Troy
5 years ago

Happens all the time in the USA. Not a big deal.

Flareon
Reply to  Articuno
5 years ago

??????$¿¿

Here Comes Lezak
Reply to  Markster
5 years ago

Never underestimate the heart of a champion

Torchbearer
Reply to  Markster
5 years ago

Well, the Olympic final IS the time to peak..as an Aussie, I imagine if the likes of Sullivan and Trickett had their lifetime peaks at the Olympics, they would be dripping in gold.

13 % Chinese person
5 years ago

He has tried hard to distance himself from being the new Thorpe or Hackett or Hell no Sun . Success!

Its a big decision to go for Tokyo in this state .

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