Swimming Video / Race Video is courtesy of Universal Sports Network, a SwimSwam partner.
As reported by SwimSwam / Braden Keith
MEN’S 4×100 FREESTYLE RELAY – FINALS
2012 World Champ: 3:06.40 – United States
2010 World Champ: 3:04.78 – France
Meet Record: 3:04.78 – France – 2010 3:03.78 – France – 2014
World Record: 3:03.30 – United States – 2009
The men’s 400 free relay final was an entirely different landscape in finals than prelims. Whereas in the morning, only two swimmers were better than 46.5 (and neither of them raced in finals); in the evening, it took a couple of 45’s or a lot of 46-lows to be in the hunt for a medal.
France got that and then some as they roared to a new Meet Record of 3:03.78 – breaking the 2010 effort of 3:04.78 done by their countrymates four years ago.
The splits:
Clement Mignon – 47.05
Fabien Gilot – 46.13
Florent Manaudou – 44.80
Mehdy Metella – 45.80
Manaudou’s 44.80 means he now moves within range of the 44.94 World Record belonging to Amaury Leveaux – which has stood since 2008 in the individual.
Meanwhile, the French had to come from behind (and even after Manaudou’s impressive split, they still were only 2nd) thanks to an explosive leadoff from Russian Vlad Morozov of 45.51. That broke the Meet Record in the individual 100 free. Joined by Sergei Fesikov (46.01), Danila Izotov (45.79), and Mikhail Polishchuk (46.87), the Russians were four-tenths behind in 3:04.18 for 2nd place. Everyone on that Russian relay swam very well, they just didn’t have an anchor to hold off France’s young star Metella. When Evgeny Sedov gets healthy for Worlds in 2015 and the Olympics in 2016, that won’t be a problem much longer for Russia.
The Americans took 3rd in 3:05.58 – though they were out of medal position (6th after Jimmy Feigen, 7th after Matt Grevers) until Ryan Lochte and Tom Shields anchored in matching 46.02’s. Lochte’s swim pulled them to 3rd, and Shields’ snuck past Italy for the bronze 3:05.58-3:05.79.
Australia took 5th in 3:06.48 after a 46.56 leadoff from Cameron McEvoy; Belgium was 6th in 3:07.54, Japan was 7th in 3:07.79, and Brazil, without Cesar Cielo, was 8th in 3:08.31. Cielo probably would’ve pulled the Brazilians up a few spots, but not enough to medal. Joao de Lucca had a nice 45.65 split for Brazil, though.
Full race video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86firKOKljA
I think you’re forgetting that Caelab Dressel set a NAG record last summer in 100 free of 48.97. This summer he was a little off because he hadn’t trained a lot his senior year. Anyways, no one else who is currently our best sprinter has been as fast as Dressel was at that age. Dressel will likely be the U.S. sprinter of the future with potential to do great things.
Overall though yes, I agree with you. For some reason there is no huge star in the 100/200 frees emerging. Michael phelps was like 1:47 or faster at age like 16 (not actually sure). I realize he is Michael Phelps but why has no come around that could challenge… Read more »
I agree. There’s definitely quite a few young guys who have the potential to be on the free relays by 2016, just no one yet who’s a lock, although Dressel is close. Murphy also seems like he could give it a go on the free relays. Aaron Peirsol swam on the 4×200 in 2003. Haas seemed initially like a distance swimmer on the national level, but he’s been getting faster at the 100/200 freestyle as well. And like I said before, Conger, Stubblefield, Ryan, and even a couple more younger guys could develop into what the USA needs by 2016 to retake the gold in the 4×100 and keep it in the 4×200. It’ll be exciting to watch over the… Read more »
The USA men really need some sprint freestylers to develop. The team came within .21 of not even medaling. I know it’s SC, and we were missing half of our top six in the 100 free LCM (Adrian, Phelps, and Ervin), but still. Feigen doesn’t seem to be the answer on relays. Maybe’s he just training hard and didn’t rest much for this meet, but still…
I still think that a relay team of Phelps, Ervin/Lochte, Grevers, and Adrian would’ve put the US in a good position to go after gold next summer in the 4×100, assuming everyone got in a solid year of training, but with Phelps gone, not so much.
It’ll be interesting to see how Dressel, Stubblefield,… Read more »
What’s worse is that most of those guys you listed will not be top performers for much longer…I can’t think of any standouts that are ready to replace these guys. Not good for the years beyond 2016…
Perhaps we need to learn from some of the other up and coming sprint powerhouses such as France and Brazil…even China looks like they are producing some great sprinters. What is missing from our training and development?!
I agree with u on this pertinent remark . For 2 years now , i have been wondering about the ” WHY ? ” aren’t there any more very good sprinters in Usa emerging and doing things right at the right moment . Cal and SwimMac have outstanding programms for sprinters , right ?
They haven’t won a single 400 free relay since ROME 2009 in LC ( Istambul 2012 in SC ) – In 2011 , 2012 , 2013 and 2014 Big meets , they were 2d or worse . Wake UP Usa , it’s time .
There are still dudes in the water when they’re turning?! That’s awesome.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDR7Gp3pTFs
Gilot post-race interview.
Not the entire race?
Is it a joke?
I’m going to search the full race videos.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSI9hsRCS0oiClYt9JBwSzw
Can’t wait for the full video. Shields’ underwaters are so fun to watch.
No joke,a 4 minute race and couldn’t see it all? Would have been nice to at least see the lead off on this and then shorten it…
I cannot wait either. Seeing these shortened race videos really bothers me. Like with Ledecky’s 1500 from Pan Pacs. I cannot find a full race video anywhere. The 1500 gets little to no respect from online/television viewers.
On your second point about Shields underwater. Remember the dual in the pool 4×100 free relay from last December? He had some wicked turns there as well.
I remember…it was awesome!
Yes, I remember. Nasty!!!
Finally , after watching the full race , one thing is clear : Grevers and Feigen did put that relay down for Usa . When Grevers was in the water , even Belgium , Yes small Belgium was even with team Usa . This shows the lack of depth actually going on for that relay speciafically . I hope they willl take note for Kazan , seriously . There is work to do there .
Shields underwaters were owesome , that’s how they could end up third . Lochte took a lot of lost ground as well . France did what they had to do to win , the last swimmer really is impressive . Manaudou , of course… Read more »
Grevers was fine, it was just the fact that Feigen was too slow to recover a lead.
It was kind of everyone. No US swimmer broke 46. France and Russia each had two swimmers under 46. Even if Feigen had swam as fast as the other the other three (taking into account relay starts), the US still would’ve ended up with the bronze.