2023 WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
- July 23 to 30, 2023
- Fukuoka, Japan
- Marine Messe Fukuoka
- LCM (50m)
- Meet Central
- SwimSwam Preview Index
- Entry Book
- Live Results (Omega)
- Day 1 Prelims Live Recap
MEN’S 4×100 FREESTYLE RELAY – HEATS
- World Record: USA – 3:08.24
- Championship Record: USA – 3:09.06
- 2022 World Champion: USA – 3:09.34
TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:
- United States – 3:11.63
- Australia – 3:11.64
- Italy – 3:12.53
- Canada – 3:13.49
- China – 3:13.54
- Spain – 3:13.77
- Brazil – 3:13.82
- Israel – 3:14.03
In the preliminary heats of the men’s 4×100 freestyle relay at the 2023 World Championships, Great Britain’s team of Lewis Burras (48.61), Matt Richards (46.89), Jacob Whittle (47.37), and Duncan Scott (47.60) were disqualified for an early takeoff that happened in an exchange between Richards and Whittle. Whittle had a reaction time of -0.04.
Headed into Worlds, Britain was a heavy favorite to win gold in this relay. They combined for a time of 3:10.47, which would have obliterated the previous British record time of 3:11.14 had it been official. Now, the Brits will have to go to the 2024 World Championships next February in order to secure Olympic qualification, as only the top three finishers for each relay at the 2023 Worlds will qualify for the 2024 Olympics.
The current British record is from the 2022 World Championships and is held by Burras, Whittle, Richards, and Tom Dean.
Splits Comparison:
| Great Britain, 2023 World Championships | Great Britain, 2022 World Championships | |
| 50m | Lewis Burras — 48.61 | Lewis Burras — 48.09 |
| 100m | Matt Richards — 46.89 | Jacob Whittle — 47.91 |
| 150m | Jacob Whittle — 47.37 | Matt Richards — 48.19 |
| 200m | Duncan Scott — 47.60 | Tom Dean — 46.95 |
| Total | 3:10.47 | 3:11.95 |
The United States posted the fastest official time of prelims at 3:11.63—over a second slower than Britain’s time. In addition, Richards’ 46.89 was the only sub-47 split from the entire field, while Whittle’s split would have tied Pan Zhanle of China’s split as the second-fastest in the field.
Damn, that slow final made this harder to swallow. Gold was there for the taking 😭
Now we have the first team confirmed in doha
So disappointing.
The idea that we were ‘heavy favourites’ for this relay when on SBs is absurd. But after that heat swim I do think we would have edged it.
Such a shame we won’t get to see them in the final and find out.
*on SBs we were third
Shame but happens. Happened to the US medley team at Worlds too. Best thing is to learn from it here and not let it happen at the Olympics.
But we still have the struggle of even qualifying!
What happened to the ‘Australia may fail to qualify without Chalmers’?
Silly mistake, not the first silly mistake in relays & won’t be the last.
GB making a non-Brent Hayden Canadian Men’s international podium possible is quite a thing
What’s the margin your actually allowed to go early? -0.02/-0.03?? They give you a small margin of error don’t they?
-0.03
Ouch! Really no need to push it though. Scott looked very sensible with his. Huge shame