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2024 World Aquatics Championships
In the strangest World Championship in generations, we will do our best to select the medalists and finalists for the 2024 World Championship. It’s going to be weird. The finals will feature players most of us have never heard of. You’re going to miss out on someone who obviously wasn’t expecting to be in the race, and you’re going to end up missing out on someone who accidentally gets a full taper and loses their Olympic spot a week later. The list at the top is just as valuable as the list at the bottom.
Of all the wild things that happen at these world championships, the relays might be the wildest. Many countries do not bring complete rosters, but still enter swim relays by combining whatever they can from the swimmers in attendance.
We expect a lot of scratches and a lot of unpredictable relays, so we’re going to take a slightly different approach to these events and pick the top four based on the best relays that we can figure out on paper.
You’ll almost certainly be wrong, but it’ll be fun anyway.
Men’s 400 Free Relay
On paper, I thought this would be an escape route for the British athletes, who are almost explicitly bringing a full relay into this event with the aim of securing a spot at the Paris Olympics.
The British men were eliminated in qualifying for last year’s World Championships and could be in the top three and earn an automatic spot, or one of the 13 provisional spots per relay awarded based on their best combined times. This means that they were not able to obtain one. of the 2023 and 2024 World Championships.
For any relay, a time in the 3:14 range is almost certain to qualify for Paris, and the average time is 48.5 seconds. She can swim in the 3:13 range while this British foursome sleeps, but she also needs a safe start. So they should (and shouldn’t) aim for an amount of rest that will put her firmly in the 3:13 range. That’s not too harsh considering you just want a little drop taper for a one day match, rather than a full taper suitable for 8 days of luxury).
Then things get really interesting. A breakdown of the top contenders and other interesting quartets.
Australia
Isaac Cooper He had a flat-start best time of 49.67 in December 2021 and 49.75 at the Queensland Championships in December. I think he might be better than Elijah Winnington’s flat start best of 49.34.
To compensate for that, Cam McEvoy In 2016, when he was a 100-200 freestyler, he swam a 47.04, but now he has transitioned to being a near-50 athlete. Considering how good his 50 was last year, we have to expect him to still be in the 47 range at least, but his best time in December 2023 after his return is 49.21.
Italy
Tomas Ceccon’s finger injury keeps this relay from being a gold medal contender, but Milessi and Zazzeri give them at least half of the “A” relay. DePlano only swims 50 meters in the individual (and is a medal contender in that race), but the legs are the key to this race. This relay will take place on his 1st day of competition and the 50 individuals will take place on his 6/7th day.
England
I don’t expect anything in the 3:10 range from them, but I think they will take the safe route and secure a spot on the relay to Paris with a little drop taper. They have the power to make it through the qualifying rounds if they wish. Safe start!
China
Pan is the best 100 freestyler in this field, and the Chinese have three dynamite legs. Can they find a fourth to close it out? If so, they seem to be the best bet to challenge the British. I’m sure there’s someone on that roster who can score better than 50.34 in the 100 free (perhaps even Wang, who is still a teenager and ran a 50.34 at last year’s World Junior Championships).
united states of america
I think this total probably underestimates the US relay.in particular carson foster, swam the following personal best at the Knoxville Pro Swim three weeks ago. In high school, she ran the 200-yard free long course in 1:45.5 and the 100-yard free in 43.61 seconds.
I’m almost certain he’s capable of a low 48 in the long course 100 free.
The American lacks the 47 mid or 47 low numbers to (in theory) make him a favorite, but Casas always seems to be one game away from those numbers.
South Korea
Koreans didn’t use it Wang Sun Woo At last year’s World Championships, he won in the qualifying round and finished 17th with a time of 3 minutes 16.15 seconds. Regardless of what happens next week in Doha, they will now be the first team to qualify for the Olympics.
With a full taper and a fan relay, this team could probably reach the 3 hours and 14 minutes needed to swim in the Olympics, and like the athletes listed above, they are motivated toward that goal. and has flexibility. Then the result of a full taper.
Swim Swam Recommendations
- England
- Italy
- Australia
- united states of america
Men’s 4×100 medley relay
There will be no British in this relay, even if Ace in the Hole Adam Peaty is on the roster.
The Chinese and Australian teams have big names, but all teams will need to do a little bit to adjust to the situation. Italy, on the other hand, has the most obvious relay, even without its biggest name. Thomas Cecconis a favorite because it sets it apart from other relays (though you may find some unexpected talent at this meet).
The United States is a mix of both. They have lots of options and are really good. This should be the best American relay of the meet, male or female.
Australia
I looked into a lot of butterfly leg options. I’m sure Isaac Cooper is better than his personal best time of 56.84 when he was 16, but I don’t know how much better.
On paper, I couldn’t find a better option than Winnington (other than Cam McEvoy, who had a 53.84 in 2016), so this is what I put together. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone shows some amazing butterfly legs or gets completely hurt in this relay.
united states of america
In theory, America has the best relay, the most complete relay, and once they figure out who is performing well they have the most options to play (the men’s 400 medley relay is (at the end of the tournament).
Michael Andrew may take over the breaststroke and butterfly legs. Shayne Casas Maybe move to backstroke or freestyle, Hunter Armstrong, maybe. carson foster If King loses his form, he could become the anchor.
| Swimmers | best flat start |
| hunter armstrong | 51.98 |
| Nick Fink | 58.36 |
| Shayne Casas | 50.40 |
| matt king | 47.93 |
| 3:28.67 |
China
Another relay that had some head-scratching legs. 17 years old Xu Yifan Individuals have only entered in the 50-back race, and China has not entered in the 100-back race. If you look at her 25.97 score in the 50 back in December, you’d think this was a medal-worthy relay, right? She had scored a 57.66 in the 50 back and 100 back the day before.
Please explain that.
If he can run a 54-second time (which doesn’t seem like a big ask for someone who can do a 50-second time of 25.97), he might win a medal in this relay.
Italy
Italy’s advantage is one of the best breaststrokers in the field and a perfect relay with Milessi’s dynamite anchor. Backstroke legs (Michele Lamberti) and butterfly legs (Gianmarco Sansome) is kind of a question mark, but these two are also the youngest legs, so there’s room for growth.
| Swimmers | best flat start |
| Michele Lamberti | 53.76 |
| Nicolo Martinenghi | 58.26 |
| Gianmarco Sansone | 52.27 |
| Alessandro Milessi | 47.45 |
| 3:31.74 |
Spain
For reference, Spain’s relay looks pretty decent, especially considering it’s an individual Olympic qualifier. Carles Col Marti Despite her weaknesses in this relay, she scored a 51.50 in the 100-yard breaststroke over the weekend, showing that she will be heading into the world championships with a shot at qualifying for the Olympics.
Even if China can’t figure out the backstroke leg and Australia gets hurt (or can’t figure out the butterfly leg), Spain will be there to get a shot at a medal.
| Swimmers | best flat start |
| Hugo Gonzalez | 52.78 |
| Carles Col Marti | 61.28 |
| Mario Mora Yanez | 52.05 |
| Sergio de Celis Montalban | 48.41 |
| 3:34.52 |
Swim Swam Recommendations:
- united states of america
- Italy
- China
- Australia (scratch?)
- Spain
Men’s 800m free relay
Great Britain are the defending world champions in the 800m free relay and all the athletes from that relay are entered for this event, so if everyone were to swim, Great Britain would be the obvious choice here. Dean doesn’t look like he’s going to hang around after the 400 free relay on the first day. Still, the exchange of one of the Lichfield brothers left England as heavy favorites.
England
The UK 200 free group has a deep base.Even without tom dean, they are a big favorite. Max Litchfield (1:47.32) is also an option here if someone else doesn’t want to go.
| Swimmers | best flat start |
| Matthew Richards | 1:44.30 |
| duncan scott | 1:44.26 |
| Joe Litchfield | 1:46.88 |
| jack mcmillan | 1:46.66 |
| 7:02.10 |
united states of america
The United States will win half of last year’s world championship silver medal relay at this event. carson foster and luke hobson. That’s a good start. Now, with one strong leg, he could probably win the silver medal. Zach Harting ran a time of 1:49.52, so that is also an option.
If there was ever a relay for the US to scratch, this seems to be it. I can’t imagine Casas wanting to swim three individual events, three men’s relay events, one mixed relay, or even all two.
South Korea
This was a highly accomplished relay for South Korea, and if they can work together, it could be their best chance to win an Olympic relay medal. It’s worth noting that Yang Jae-hoon had a tough swim at last year’s World Championships, but he recorded a time of 1:46.83 from a flat start.
Note the differences for comparison. The split below is from South Korea’s actual 800 free relay split at last summer’s world championships, where they finished 6th.
Australia
Bradley Woodward hasn’t swum the long 200 free since November 2019, when he ran a best time of 1:50.82. In the same time frame he shaved half a second off his 200m time, so think there’s a little bit better in him here. This is difficult because Australia have three really good legs and some other really good swimmers on their roster. Maybe they have something creative to fill this.
China
China has four strong performers in the relay, including star Pan, who is competing for individual gold in both Doha and Paris in the 200m free.
| Swimmers | best flat start |
| Pan Zanre | 1:44.65 |
| Fei Liwei | 1:46.69 |
| Zhang Zhenshuo | 1:47.98 |
| Ji Xinjie | 1:45.48 |
| 7:04.80 |
Italy
Given Alberto Lazetti’s recent progress in the 200IM, it seems like he should be able to shave a tenth off his best time.the same applies Manuel Frigoswam a personal best in the 200 free at the meet, but was just short of his personal best in the 100 free, his best event.
| Swimmers | best flat start |
| Mateo Ciampi | 1:46.98 |
| Marco de Tullio | 1:45.70 |
| Manuel Frigo | 1:48.49 |
| Alberto Lazetti | 1:48.57 |
| 7:09.74 |
Brazil
Brazil brought just four men to Doha and has only one entered in the men’s relay. This indicates that they probably intend to swim, even though their position in Paris is probably safe for this relay.
The odd number below, Gonche’s 1:56.30, is actually his best time in the 200 fly, two seconds faster than his best time in the 200 free. If he can run 1:56 in the 200 fly, he should be able to run at least 1:51 in the free, right?
| Swimmers | best flat start |
| Breno Correia | 1:46.65 |
| Guilherme Costa | 1:46.85 |
| Matheus Gonche | 1:56.30* |
| Fernand Schaeffer | 1:44.66 |
| 7:14.46 |
Swim Swam Recommendations:
- England
- South Korea
- united states of america
- Australia
- Brazil
- Italy
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