Braden Keith contributed to this report.
The qualifying invites for the Olympic relays are locked in place following the conclusion of the World Championships in Doha.
To no surprise, countries like the United States, China and Australia are eligible to put forth a full roster of relays in Paris this summer. Twenty-nine different countries had relay teams secure a spot in the Olympic Games, while seven more landed themselves in the alternate position which could give them a spot at the Olympics if any of the invited teams were to decline.
In a bit of a shakeup from tradition, a few countries who were not represented in the relays at the Tokyo Olympics managed to sneak into the lineup. Ireland slid themselves into the mix in the men’s 400 medley relay, as did Austria.
Slovenia qualified their first relay since their women’s 800 free relay finished 14th in London 2012. Singapore earned its first-ever relay qualification based on time.
The top three relay finishers from the 2023 World Championships automatically qualify for the Olympics, while the next 13 slots are filled by the fastest times from the combination of heats and finals at both the 2023 and 2024 World Championships.
With the continued absence of Russia and Belarus from the World Championships stage, the spots that used to be frequently held by their swimmers have now opened up, giving more countries like Ireland a chance to find their way into the Olympic standings.
The nations below are the top 16 invitees. If any of these countries decline, the next-best nation will be invited in their place.
Olympic Relay Qualifiers
| COUNTRY | MEN’S RELAYS | WOMEN’S RELAYS | MIXED RELAYS |
Number of Relays Qualified
|
| Australia | 400 free relay 800 free relay 400 medley relay |
400 free relay 800 free relay 400 medley relay |
Mixed Medley | 7 |
| Canada | 400 free relay 800 free relay 400 medley relay |
400 free relay 800 free relay 400 medley relay |
Mixed Medley | 7 |
| China | 400 free relay 800 free relay 400 medley relay |
400 free relay 800 free relay 400 medley relay |
Mixed Medley | 7 |
| France | 400 free relay 800 free relay 400 medley relay |
400 free relay 800 free relay 400 medley relay |
Mixed Medley | 7 |
| Great Britain | 400 free relay 800 free relay 400 medley relay |
400 free relay 800 free relay 400 medley relay |
Mixed Medley | 7 |
| Italy | 400 free relay 800 free relay 400 medley relay |
400 free relay 800 free relay 400 medley relay |
Mixed Medley | 7 |
| Japan | 400 free relay 800 free relay 400 medley relay |
400 free relay 800 free relay 400 medley relay |
Mixed Medley | 7 |
| United States | 400 free relay 800 free relay 400 medley relay |
400 free relay 800 free relay 400 medley relay |
Mixed Medley | 7 |
| Germany | 400 free relay 800 free relay 400 medley relay |
800 free relay 400 medley relay |
Mixed Medley | 6 |
| Brazil | 400 free relay 800 free relay |
400 free relay 800 free relay |
Mixed Medley | 5 |
| Netherlands | 400 medley relay | 400 free relay 800 free relay 400 medley relay |
Mixed Medley | 5 |
| Israel | 400 free relay 800 free relay |
800 free relay | Mixed Medley | 4 |
| Poland | 400 medley relay | 400 free relay 400 medley relay |
Mixed Medley | 4 |
| Spain | 400 free relay 800 free relay 400 medley relay |
800 free relay | 4 | |
| Sweden | 400 free relay | 400 free relay 400 medley relay |
Mixed Medley | 4 |
| Greece | 400 free relay 800 free relay |
None | Mixed Medley | 3 |
| Hungary | 400 free relay | 400 free relay 800 free relay |
3 | |
| South Korea | 800 free relay 400 medley relay |
None | Mixed Medley | 3 |
| Denmark | None |
400 free relay
400 medley relay |
2 | |
| Hong Kong | None |
400 free relay
400 medley relay |
2 | |
| Ireland | 400 medley relay |
400 medley relay
|
2 | |
| Switzerland | 800 free relay 400 medley relay |
None | 2 | |
| Austria | 400 medley relay | None | 1 | |
| Lithuania | 800 free relay | None | 1 | |
| New Zealand | None | 800 free relay | 1 | |
| Serbia | 400 free relay | None | 1 | |
| Singapore | None |
400 medley relay
|
1 | |
| Slovenia | None | 400 free relay | 1 | |
| Turkey | None | 800 free relay | 1 |
One of the relay rules is that a maximum of 2 relay only swimmers can be nominated per event. With many national trials still to be held there will be teams who are still to meet this requirement. Particularly in the smaller nations. Do we know how rigidly this has been enforced in previous games ?
If Siobhan Haughey represented China as technically Hong Kong is part of China how will that change the China’s relay chances? I think they take silver in both womens freestyle relays and gold in mixed medley relay.
When is the date to accept (decline) the spot?
June 7th
Australia to medal in all 7 relays.
Whilst certainly possible, I would not care to wager 5c on it actually occuring.
Barring unusually poor form/illness; it’s likely all 3 womens relays should medal with both free relays heavily favoured.
M4X100 may won gold in Fukuoka but that race remains very much a lottery. Anyone from USA/AUS/ITA/GBR could win and then add CHN to medal equation. Think they’re the best medal bet for AUS men.
M4X200 looks even messier. GBR may still be favourites but maybe less overwhelmingly so than previously thought. Whilst AUS has a habit of making this podium, at this point they lack the heavy hitters to raise them to the gold equation and I think CHN/KOR & USA may’ve jumped ahead of them. … Read more »
I agree mens 200 is the most questionable but I wouldn’t say there are no heavy hitters. Giuliani is 1:44 high flat start, Taylor 1:44 mid flying, Chalmers 1:45 low flying and then a few options for the last leg. Probably not in the gold conversation but definitely got at least one potential “heavy hitter”.
MMR I disagree gold is ruled out. Kaylee 57 mid-high, breast 58 mid, Temple 49 high and free 51 mid are all realistic possibilities. If we hit all those that’s a WR. Unlikely, but could happen.
Wouldn’t agree that M4X200 is the most questionable; that realistically has to be M4XMED. 4X200 is always thereabouts whereas 4XMED bronze in Fukuoka was a (pleasant) surprise.
Is 1.44 still classified as “big hitter” status for the M4X200 or has that now been upgraded to 1.43′ or do we need to reassess how we grade these ? Guiliani’s flat start 1.44 is a good sign, agreed; Taylor’s 1.44 split was in heats but couldn’t replicate in finals.
AUS has admirable depth in potential 1.45 splits and prospects of maybe 1-2 1.44s but is that enough ? They should certainly be thereabouts but may be needing a higher seed to misfire in order to medal; in all fairness we’ve certainly… Read more »
Men’s medley and men’s 200 could go either way. The other 5 seem fairly safe
In other Olympic news, Manaudou and Blume have split. Lots of disapproving comments on Instagram!
I noticed that they didn’t talk about her at all in a recent interview with him and thought that was odd. He’s been training in Australia for a few months so wondered how that would go with a long distance partner. Sad news!
I thought he’s in South Africa now
Looks like they have also deleted all photos of each other from their IG history. Manaudou also posting with his new gf.
They have split for a while now
south africa qualified no relays?
Correct (unless countries decline their spots).
From what I gathered through discussions, South Africa swimming federation is badly managed.
Like most of RSA Olympic sports, its been this way since the mid/later 00s.
Has Africa qualified any relays 🙁
For the most part podium prospects are pretty set at this point, save a surprise or two
M4x1 US China GB Italy Aus
M4x2 US China GB SK Aus
MMedley US China Italy Aus GB
W4x1 US China Aus
W4x2 US China Aus
WMedley US China Aus Canada
MixedMedley US China Aus GB
Anything else would be a pretty big upset.
Mmmh France could be in contention for a medal in the men’s medley relay imo
I suppose if you’re in the final there’s always a chance but I personally don’t think they could contend with Italy, Aus, and GB. They would have to have a faster freestyle leg.
If Flo can split 47 low, Brouard/the other guy finds 0.5s and Marchand drops a 58 then maybe but not likely
And that’s a big “If” because Flo hasn’t split 47-low since 2016. 48.12 is his best flat start since 2016 as well.
If everything comes together just right maybe a slim chance. I’m not really even sure if Manaudou is going to anchor the relay, and even if he does he hasn’t been 47 low in so long and he’s a lot older now.
I think France men and Canada women have an outside chance at some more races than you’ve listed there
Maybe you could specify which ones? For Canada I suppose you’re talking about the 4×1. An outside chance, possibly, but do you have recent splits that show they could really contend with the top 3 in that relay? Of course there’s the possibility of some new times come along the Olympic trials.
I feel like some are very generous with France’s chances with the men’s relays but I don’t see the data to back this up at all. I assume you’re talking about the 4×2 and the medley? Between China/SK/Aus for the 4×2 and Italy/Aus/GB for the medley, I just don’t see France making it onto the podium. If you have splits that show they could contend I’d love to… Read more »
France is usually considered for a bronze in the 4×100 medley relay for the following reasons: strong backstroke (52 mid, and they can rest the faster guy in prelims because they have Tomac and Ndoye-Brouard with similar PBs), strong butterfly (the Fukuoka gold medalist, 3rd fastest active swimmer in the event and that 49.2 split speaks for itself) and decent breaststroke with an ever improving Marchand, who split 59.00, and there is no reason to believe he won’t continue to progress. The freestyle split was comparably weak, and even with that deficit, and Ndoye-Brouard being way off his PB, they were 0.26 off bronze in Fukuoka.
The other bronze contenders all have similar problems. Aus has a similar breast… Read more »
Italy is an interesting case in that if they are firing on all cylinders they are a threat for gold (albeit not so much as the US and China), and there is basically no chance for either Aus, GB or France to get on the podium, but key parts of that relay have been struggling recently, they (similar to China) still lack a strong butterflier, and they have consistency issues.
I feel like for Italy to threaten gold, US and China would have to really underperform. Both US and China could take out the WR this summer, and in fact both may go under but only one could win.
I would still say they’re the favorite for bronze, although I have a feeling Aus could put up a very strong fight.
Oh, an Italy win would be an upset, no question. The only potential leg where they can have a leg up on both their competitors for gold is backstroke. They have a potentially faster breaststroke than the US and a similar freestyle, but they lose a lot on fly; so does China, but they have the potential to be much faster than any other teams on freestyle (except maybe Aus, but they won’t be in the conversation for gold) and breaststroke.
Aus really needs to figure out their back/breast situation if they want to compete with a full-strength Italy for bronze.
This is just my own hunch, but I personally feel like Williamson has a lot of potential in that breast leg. I’m not saying he’s going to improve to a point where he’s a strong contender for a 1breast medal, but I think he could put up a very good relay split. I think someone who’s the 4th fastest performer in history with a 26.3 in the 50 breast has a dangerous amount of potential in the 100 breast, because most of what you’re working on then is the ability to come back. And I feel this is pretty unique to breaststroke. From Lilly King to Meilutyte, Peaty to Qin, and even Tang’s recent breakthrough it seems that almost all… Read more »
A couple things I don’t really agree with. I get they have a stronger backstroke (relatively) and very good fly, but breast I don’t agree with. Just because Marchand is getting better at other events, doesn’t mean he’s assumed to get better at a 100m breaststroke. Between Marchand and Williamson, I’d probably bet Williamson split’s faster. Temple could split a 49 high. And Chalmers could literally go at least 1.5 sec faster than the anchor from France. I included GB primarily because I think there’s still the possibility Peaty will get to a 57 relay split this Summer, but I’d favor Italy and Aus. Regardless I feel like the GB anchor is also likely to outsplit France by over a… Read more »
Marchand’s 59.00 breaststroke split was faster than ZSC’s in Fukuoka and Williamson’s in Doha. Williamson’s PB is 59.21, which is 0.29 faster than Marchand’s fastest split + 0.5 to account for relay start. ZSC’s PB is 59.51 (although he did split 58. high before). The difference is very slim, even if Aus’s breast leg does turn out to be faster.
I agree that they are the least likely team to get bronze but considering them for bronze is right in line with how this events has gone down at the last few Worlds minus Doha (they were 5th in Budapest, 4th in Fukuoka).
Again like I said, I see a bit more potential in Williamson. Also for me I don’t really take into account 2022 relay results too much considering there’s too much context (Covid, other comps in the same year, injuries and swimmers taking break for mental health reasons etc.). Italy not making it to finals in Fukuoka was also a surprise which I’d have to assume is unlikely to happen this summer.
Umm Matt Temple swam a 50.25 flat start butterfly recently.
Yeah I know. He swam 50.45 in 2021 too, and never backed up that performance in a relay. So I’m still a bit sceptical about him being able to perform well on the relay.
The stupid stereotype of Australians only swimming fast in Australia and at small eastern (Asian/Australian) meets holds true for Temple unfortunately. So far anyway – that 50.25 is pretty great, but it’s not that much of a step up from his previous PB, which he never replicated at a big international competition.
Can give due credence to your comments regarding Temple’s international record INDIVIDUALLY but will beg differ with regards to his relay performances.
At 2023 Worlds, he split 50.82 (heats) and 50.10 final in 4XMED, the latter actually allowed Chalmers to enter the water in a competitive position rather than a forlorn hope. He swan 50.62 on the MMR where he took AUS from 5th to 2nd. He split 50.26 on this relay in Tokyo.
He would appear to “show up” for the MMR at the very least. As for 4XMED, he has a clean record of 50sec splits but, other than in Fukuoka, the relay has already been sunk before he enters the water due to the uncompetitive front half.
Well, my mistake then. Still a bit slower than his potential (49.7-49.9 with a relay start), and much slower than Grousset (49.2), but definitely not bad.
Yes nothing right now shows Canada as a 4×1 free contender. China average for Bronze in Japan was 52.85. Canada has Maggie, & Taylor Ruck within striking distance of that. possibly Summer but no one else even close to a low 53. Possibly Penny O but that’s a lot of hope with no evidence right now.
I think there is more upside in the 4×2 as there are a-number of young swimmers that might drop some time at the trials. but still a tough ask against the favoured 3.
W 4×100 freestyle Australia, US, China, Netherlands.
The chinese women are slowly building a decent 4×100 freestyle relay just like their men. Both wu qingfeng and zhang yufei have split 52 mids.
The chinese women’s medley finally have a breastroker in Tamg Qianting but the backstroke is MIA unless wan letian drops something big in Trials. Very unlikely.
The Netherlands have good potential in the 4×1, but on paper I just don’t see how they could get in the medal conversation. It should be between US China and Aus, unless there are some great times dropped at trials somewhere.
In the medley China was around 0.5 sec behind Canada at worlds last year, and Tang could potentially split a 1:04 now. I think they have to be in bronze contention with Canada.
yes a few ifs for Canada. We seem to have a breast stroker who is getting low 1:06 consistently but Masse was high 58’s last year as opposed to a high 57 at the. Olympics . Ruck swam under 53 in the recent world’s medley so that’s promising. The butterfly between Can & China is about equal.
Underestimating Canada in the women’s relays
Based on what.. hope? No current evidence that Canada would be favoured/ contention for a medal in anything but the w medley. Ruck’s recent improved form is promising but no current 4th swimmer even close to mid 53 form for 4×1 free need 52.85 average to match China in 2023 worlds. Penny O seems to be inspired by Olympics but she hasn’t been in a competitive race since 2022 worlds, except for that aborted attempt at mare nostrum last year that she didn’t seem to be ready for. We don’t seem to have any young heir apparent to the sprinter core we’ve had over the last 8 years.
the 4×2 free has some younger prospects but we need 3 swimmers… Read more »
W4X100: AUS clear pole postion. USA most likely silver & CHN bronze. Should we see a return to form from Ruck (possible) & Oleksiak (seemingly less likely) then CAN definitely reenters the picture. SWE will be there for maybe 3 legs but lack of depth sinks them; same depth issue for NED & GBR.
W4X200: Copy and paste 4X100 likely podium. The CAN scenario for 4X100 could see them contend but they have a weaker hand with 4th leg problematic. GBR could be respectable but unlikely to seriously threaten podium.
W4XMED: the least predictable of the women’s podiums; at least for bronze. USA looks to have the strongest hand but whilst they’ve won Worlds in 2022 & 2023, they haven’t… Read more »
For the W4x2, at least on paper China will give the US a serious run for silver, I don’t think the US is necessarily the favorite for 2nd.
For WMedley, it’s going to take both China and Canada to really underperform for other teams to really contend for bronze. At least on paper it should be a race between the two.
I’m quite confused by opinions on this M4x1. How is it that Aus, Italy, and GB have a chance to win it but China does not? If I had to give a slight edge and pick a favorite right now I’d prob go with the US or maybe GB, but out of the other countries I think China has… Read more »
Think Sweden has medal chance in W4xMed . Australia can win MMR as long Williamson continues to improve.
Can essentially agree re W4X200. Would still seed USA ahead but can certainly see scenarios where CHN gets in ahead of them.
Concur largely re W4XMED; I entered SWE & NED to the equation due to them possessing 2-3 strong legs which may see them as “catchers” should something go wrong. Agree that its unlikely that CAN & CHN will both come apart but there’s usually at least one team that stuffs up.
Why do I seed CHN below the other 4 teams ? They finished behind them in Fukuoka and with all due credit to their Doha gold; their time was still slower than bronze in Fukuoka. Will totally grant you that CHN possesses 2 46 splits but am… Read more »
Would be nice to see the alternates included in the grid as well.