2024 Short Course World Championships
- December 10-15, 2024
- Duna Arena, Budapest, Hungary
- SCM (25m)
- Meet Central
- Roster Index
- SwimSwam Preview Index
- Pick’em
- Psych Sheets
- Live Results
- Prelims Live Recap: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3| Day 4
- Finals Live Recap: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3
The 2024 Short Course World Championships’ fourth day of prelims kicked off with the mixed 4x50m freestyle relay, and the United States delivered an unexpected outcome.
Teaming up Michael Andrew, Matt King, Claire Weinstein, and Alex Shackell turned out to be anything but a successful lineup. The stars and stripes fell to 9th and out of tonight’s medal-contesting race.
Splits for the U.S. included Andrew’s 21.27, King’s 21.23, Weinstein’s 24.49 and Schackell’s 24.09 in the MMFF order. The final time was 1:31.06 which rendered them just .06 outside of the top 8 finishing relays.
Fans of the U.S. were left to wonder why big guns such as Jack Alexy, Kate Douglass and Chris Guiliano were benched instead of suiting up for the race and trying to improve upon the nation’s 4th place finish at the 2022 edition of these championships.
Of note, the entire set of heats was much quicker than 2 years ago. There in Melbourne, the United States’ time this morning would have placed 5th as the 8th place was over a second faster this time around.
MIXED 4×50 FREESTYLE RELAY – HEATS
- World Record: FRA – 1:27.33
- World Championship Record: FRA – 1:27.33
- 2022 World Champion: FRA – 1:27.33
TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:
- Italy – 1:29.46
- Neutral Athletes – 1:29.94
- Poland – 1:30.14
- Canada – 1:30.23
- Netherlands – 1:30.53
- Norway – 1:30.89
- Hong Kong – 1:30.94
- Slovakia – 1:31.00
Y’all did Claire so dirty with that photo. Should have used one of Plumb instead as well.
Do we blame the athlete(s) for the result in this instance? No
Do we blame the coach(es) for the result in this instance? Yes
Does the cover photo of the athlete summarize fans reaction to that coaching decision? Yes
This has been my analysis
Accurate? Yes.
Succinct? Yes.
Ouch just like Rome 2009 when coach’s decided to use entire b squad and have Julia smit anchor the free on the medlay relay prelims American women won only one medlay on the relays that year
When all is said and done, isn’t it a COACHING decision that led to this mis-step?
Stand up, guys, and take your medicine. Transparency works wonders.
This is on the coaches. Period.
Did King really sit out the first semester of the college season to swim one prelims mixed 50 at short course worlds and that’s it? I’m surprised he wasn’t even on the prelims men’s 400 free relay.
Agreed, what is going on
now why would you put an amazing distance swimmer like claire weinstein in a 50 relay. no shade to her she’s been swimming great and has been clutch but she’s amazing at 200 and above. the 100 i could understand but a 50?
I just hope it did not mess with confidence considering what she did the day before. I want to see her blast that 200 free!
They can’t be too surprised since they’re clearly not taking the relays seriously.
I’m just mad we don’t get to see what Peak Gretchen could split. 21-point definitely possible with a good takeover.
Gretchen was not on the 200 Mix Medley either.
I think this is odd as she is probably the best short course female sprinter ever (or at least in the US)
I’m all for ridiculous Gretchen splits but 21 is a Bit outrageous…