Despite a change in FINA’s rules regarding relay swimmers at the Olympics, USA Swimming says it doesn’t plan to change its selection procedures for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The FINA rule prohibits a nation from bringing a relay alternate to the Olympics and then not using that swimmer in either prelims or finals of the relay they were selected for.
Typically, the larger swimming nations will select up to 6 swimmers per relay, allowing the team to rest some of its top swimmers during prelims and replace the slowest few legs heading into the final. FINA’s new rule, though, has caused some speculation that teams will be less likely to bring extra relay swimmers if there is any concern that the relay could miss the final if the relay-only swimmers swim prelims.
That speculation takes a lot of its inspiration from last summer’s World Championships, where longtime swimming powers Australia and the United States missed the final of the men’s 4×100 free relay. One idea floated has been to leave relay-only swimmer selection entirely up to a nation’s coaching staff, allowing them to only select relay members they are confident can get the team into the final.
However, USA Swimming told SwimSwam that “our National Team staff is not anticipating any changes to the selection procedures.” That means it appears Team USA will continue to select the top 6 finishers in the 100 and 200 frees to the Olympic team as long as the roster size allows it.
When we covered the new FINA rule, we noted that the American men had no problem using its 5th and 6th swimmers on prelims relays in London – the 4×100 free relay used an entirely different lineup from prelims to finals and the 4×200 free relay had only Conor Dwyer swim twice at the 2012 Olympics.
Does everyone get a medal (prelim swimmers and finals swimmers or just the swimmers of the final)? Would seem to me since they all contributed to the win, they should all get a medal.
Wait a second, there is a scenario where the US may not want to take six swimmers…. and it’s not even that unrealistic.
Let’s assume neither Phelps nor Lochte swim the 200 Free individually at trials, but should obviously be put on the 4×200 Free Relay. From there the 200 Free at trials shapes up like this:
1) Dwyer
2) Rooney
3) Haas
4) Conger
5) Malone
6) Weiss
Let’s assume that Haas, Conger, Malone, and Weiss go 1:47’s to 1:48’s and none of them have another non-relay event. In this scenario, would you agree to take Malone and Weiss knowing that your prelim relay would all be 1:47 to 1:48 swimmers? At best… Read more »
I don’t think Lochte is going to skip out on the 200 free. If anything, he’s going to be focusing on the 2 free and 2 im, and going on the spots for relays.
And yes I would take Weiss and Malone, they’ve both split 1:46. The US has a much easier chance of making this final than the 4×100.
They should win this final – not only qualify for the final . They have the power for the win – Only the Brits and French can truly challenge maybe even the Russians and Japanese .
U can`t count Lochte out of the 800 free relay – he always made a difference since i can remember – he is part of the actual still standing tough to beat WR !!!!! the rest of your list is perfect – those guys are the ones to step up right now . Lochte , Dwyer are locks for that relay – U can add Rooney , Haas or Conger and u have the set up for finals . Lochte and Dwyer will probably be around 1.45-46 + 2 other guys around 1.47 .
Trials will determine of course the right course to follow and the Who is part of the journey .
Usa will have on both… Read more »
You mean like Phelps and Lochte did in London? That’s a good question. So this is my hypothetical scenario, at trials the 100 free shapes up like this:
1) Michael Chadwick
2) Caeleb Dressel
3) Bret Ringgold
4) John Murray
5) Matt Ellis
6) Eric Schultz
Haha I just took the top 6 US swimmers in the college ranks btw. Anyways, say for example the US coaches plan on swimming Phelps and Lochte at finals. That means we have 8 relay swimmers in total, which means a complete swap out of swimmers from prelims to finals. Then let’s say that John Murray goes a 44 low in prelims (cause you know…. John Murray). In this… Read more »
In that scenarios of using lochte and Phelps and they did not swim finals they WILL use swimmers 3-6 on prelims. Will they be enough to final?
The other way we could get it wrong is if one of those 3-6 guys looks off during training camp but has to swim in perlims because otherwise they wouldn’t have a swim and we miss the finals because of it. I think that’s more of a concern than leaving an unexpected fast split off because of who needs to be swapped on.
I missed these comments earlier. Yea, these should both be concerns.
I was thinking about this the other day and realized that it might not even be a concern at all. I was running through my picks for top 6 at trials and realized that I think each of them will also qualify individually. Adrian (50 and/or 100 free), Dressel (50, MAYBE 100 free), Phelps (100/200 fly, 200 IM), Grevers (100 back), Feigen (100 free), Rooney (200 free). The biggest question mark here, to me, is Feigen vs. Dressel in the 100. If Feigen can get back into the form he was in in 2013, he’s almost a lock for an individual spot. If Dressel can show similar growth in the 100 to what he’s shown in the 50 the past… Read more »
Sorry, I meant for the 4×100 free relay. Haven’t thought much about my top 6 for the 4×200. There are almost certainly going to be some relay only swimmers on that one.
I don’t see feigen 2013 as his real form apart from world he does not have amazing times it seems more like a one time swim like Roberts 47,50. So can’t see him as an individual contender. Also apart from adrian who is a lock second place is open but apart from dressel on 50 any of my bets if is not second won’t get a individual spot. Chadwick Schneider rooney if feigen qualifies is sixth at most. Easier to have greevers there. Also there is Phelps and lochte situation. Both did not swim a individual 100 free lately. Can’t know their current level.
Doh. Forgot about Chadwick! He’s been looking good, lately. He could certainly knock one of those guys off, and might challenge for an individual shot as well.
Sven , Grevers has seriously mentioned be willing to be on that relay – so Grevers is on in my book – and could potentially be the 4th pillar of power in the prelims / maybe finals . Grevers has a better shot than Lochte and was part of the last 400 free relay the Usa won ( 2009 Rome ) – i loved that relay set up . Schneider will surely be in the mix – he is getting better and better on 100 free .
So i see Adrian , Phelps , Dressel & Grevers for Finals – Prelims : Schneider or Chadwick / Dressel , Grevers and Adrian for prelims . Conger might as well be… Read more »
Does that still leaves an option to potentially put 2 swimmers in the relay who don’t swim top 6 or even finals at trials ?
Yes because the swimmers who place 3-6 can swim prelims. And then the top 2 can swim alongside wih Phelps and lotche possibly in the finals. That way all 6 are taken care of.
I’m not sure, but my guess is that this will mean people like Phelps and Lochte will have to actually swim through finals to make the relay, rather than blasting it in prelims and then scratching.
Yes. Typically at US Olympic Trials, swimmers 1-6 in the 100 and 200 freestyle will make the team with swimmers 1 & 2 making the event obviously and 3-6 being relay candidates.
The FINA rule change would force swimmers 3-6 to swim the relay IF that is how they qualified for the Olympics.
My understanding is that if they make the Olympics in another event, they don’t have to swim the relay. Same with #1 & 2 because they made the individual sprint free event.
Theoretically they could have 3-6 swim the prelims, and then 1 & 2 (and say, Phelps and Lochte) swim finals.
The danger is if for some reason a relay-only swimmer cannot swim in… Read more »