Olympic Champion Nathan Adrian has not raced much this season. After the Austin Pro Swim he didn’t get back on the blocks until Charlotte. At the Santa Clara Pro Swim he topped the field in the 50 freestyle, winning with a sub 22, then swam the prelim of the 100 freestyle only to scratch out of the final.
Nathan’s lack of racing might make some nervous, but he’s had plenty of race experience over his long career, and our sources tell us he’s doing the work in practice.
2015 World Championships Predictions – Men’s Sprint Freestyle
Anything can go wrong in the nitro events, especially the 50. At the risk of angering our French readers, I’m calling Nathan for the 50 free gold in Kazan. I think he’s got a 21.37 in him, a time fast enought to win. I’m calling the 100 free for Vlad Morozov. Vlad will have his country’s support, and if he doesn’t over-swim that first 50, he can dip under 47.5 to capture gold.
For my complete predictions, watch the video above.
What are your 2015 World Championships predictions for the men’s 50 and 100 meter freestyle?
RECENT EPISODES
This is a Gold Medal Media production presented by SwimOutlet.com. Host Gold Medal Mel Stewart is a 3-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a Swimming News website.
Predictions for Kazan 2015
50 Free
1) Morozov- 21.25
2) Manadou- 21.32
3) Cielo- 21.40
100 Free
1) Adrian- 47.51
2) McEvoy- 47.68
3) Morozov- 47.8
People think 100 free is going to be very fast which is not the case. It will be slower or close to London 2012 times.
So I’m just confused about the final prediction you made, Mel – Sukhorukov for the Bronze in the 100m? Really? Sure he’s a relay guy and we’re in Kazan but I really doubt that we’ll see something that quick from him especially against a loaded field…
I definitely would have my money on Ning making the podium in the 100m, as well as Mcevoy, not sure which order. I think the other medallists will probably be Morozov or Adrian.
In the 50m, it’s a complete crapshoot apart from Florent, I think. And even apart from Florent I’d put more money on Cielo, Fratus, Vlad or Orsi than Adrian.
As for the 4×100, still backing the French! :p
Morozov will take both.
50 Free:
1. Morozov 21.25
2. Manaudou 21.31
3. Adrian 21.38
100 Free:
1. Morozov 47.64
2. Adrian 47.81
3. McEvoy 47.87
Don’t underestimate him cause of his height.
I think Vlad can win the 100 but I think Manadou has the 50.
I dont think the 100 free final will be as fast as some readers here seem to believe, without Magnussen in the water. Specifically I believe that any time under 48 will be enough to grab a medal. Adrian and Morozov will be there, predictably. With McEvoy.
In the 50 behind Manaudou I hope to see either one of my two favorite sprint frestylers, Ervin or Gkolomeev, and I think Marco Orsi has a legitimate shot to a medal too; but realistically there is only one spot left for one of these three when one considers Fratus. Adrian? Out of the podium. Sorry. 🙂
As a rebuttal, remember that 6 guys were under 48.0 in the final in London. I expect all finalists in Rio will either race under 48 in that final or at some other point that week, 47.9’s aren’t as competitive as they used to be. Aside from notable exceptions (m50-200 free, m100fly, w200IM, w200fly…), the world class swimmers have returned to times have are comparable to 2008/2009 times (or we expect them to be this/next year). I expect we will see large drops in the above disciplines as well.
The top talents in the above events are pretty bunched together– to see a man pop a 21.1 or faster in the 50free, though shocking, wouldn’t be inhumane. Magnussen has already… Read more »
Rio will be fast, on that I agree
My own predictions for kazan-
50fr-
Manaudou in 21.0 to get close to Cielo’s record. He’s the best racer in the field. He can pull a gold at sc worlds in any of the 50s, and he’s incredible untapered so far.
Morozov in 21.28 with a monster of a swim. His underwaters are actually very quick, so much so that if he has dialed them in enough to go for 15m, he can upset florent.
Fratus I see getting up there. Between 21.3-21.4
Adrian I predict swimming that range aswell. Hopefully he gets a gold medal, but I think the 100 is his real game and he might not be able to fake the 50 when he’s… Read more »
Tom from chicago, the US remains strong in swimming. It,s just that the rest of the world is producing great swimmers. Some nations produce just one really great swimmer. Eg Sarah sjostrom of sweden. Who would have thought that south Africa would produce a great swimmer like chad leclos. Britain has also been a revelation in the last 3 years, producing really good swimmers like Adam peaty, Siobhan Marie o Connor etc. Their male swimmers, especially the younger generation seem to be getting better in the backstroke. They are already strong in the breaststroke.
The US will still win many medals in the future. It,s just that the number of gold medals will be less and the US men… Read more »
According to the US Air Marshall to Congress yesterday – The biggest threat to the USA today & in the future is Russia .
On the strength of that I would have thought they would pull the team out rather than send them into the arms of the enemy . Don’t tell me it’s just words.
In that case – carry on . Will they be flying Aeroflot ?
Hate how this got hijacked into a us doomsday prediction contest as opposed to being about Adrian. As far as the free sprints there is no way we will see 21.2 and 47.3 in Kazan. No way ! My conservative and realistic predictions:
50 free
Manadou 21.45
Morozov 21.55
Adrian 22.56
Fratus 21.57
Cielo 21.60
100 free
Mcevoy 47.71
Adrian 47.89
Morozov 47.98
Santana 48.18
I think these 50 free time are too slow… No way Manadou will swim 21.4 only and Fratus a 21.5 high..
Mel: interesting predictions especially for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials.
I’d like to have you make one more prediction if you’d be so bold.
What kind of lane lines will US Swimming use at the 2016 Oly Trials:
1) all lane lines identical — like they’ve done in the past; or,
2) different color lines, e.g., yellow for lanes 3-5, red for lanes 6-7 and 2-3, and blue for the outer lanes (as is used in the Olympics and WCs).
I believe option #2 is significantly friendlier for spectators — especially those viewing on TV and mobile devices.
What do you predict?
What about what dress will DP be wearing? handbag? sisters? fire?
The latter is pure viewing pleasure, but risk to the officials.