2022 FINA WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
- June 18-25, 2022 (pool swimming)
- Budapest, Hungary
- Duna Arena
- LCM (50-meter format)
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The prelims relay lineups for the women’s and men’s 4×100 free relay were just released around 30 minutes before the start of the session. For the most part, the people on each team were exactly what we expected. However, there were a few notable things that stood out.
Women’s 4×100 Free Relay
Most of the podium favorites in this relay are opting to rest their top two swimmers from trials for finals. Australia is missing Mollie O’Callaghan and Shayna Jack, while the U.S. lineup doesn’t include Claire Curzan or Torri Huske.
However, Kayla Sanchez, the top finisher from Canadian trials in the 100 free, is on Canada’s prelims lineup alongside Taylor Ruck, Rebecca Smith and Katherine Savard. This means that Penny Oleksiak will likely be put on the finalst realy, with the same going for Maggie MacNeil. The latter decision makes sense, considering that MacNeil is just coming off a shoulder injury and coaches probably wanted to lighten her race load.
The Chinese relay is missing Zhang Yufei and Yang Junxuan. While Yang will most likely be put on the finals relay, the status regarding Zhang for this relay is unknown. She was not put on this relay in Tokyo last year, but her omission caused controversy in China because she could have been a huge boost to the team with her 52.90 best time.
Full Prelims Lineups:
Men’s 4×100 Free Relay
The most interesting thing that we noticed when looking at the men’s lineups was that Drew Kibler, alongside Caeleb Dressel, were missing from the USA squad. To leave Dressel out would make sense, but the omission of Kibler, who tied for fourth at U.S. trials, is an interesting choice. Brooks Curry and Ryan Held, who finished second and third ahead of Kibler, are both on this prelims relay.
Australia seems to be going all in on prelims, shown by the fact that they are putting in Kyle Chalmers on their morning squad. In addition, their top finisher at trials, William Yang, is also on the prelims relay. However, second-place finisher Zac Incerti is not.
Full Prelims Lineups:
Could Kibler have tested positive for Covid at training camp?
Do NOT like Neale swimming this relay but then again I would not have selected her in the first place. Then again, it really shouldn’t cost them qualification.
Chalmers has to swim heats otherwise AUS is making the final. Interesting that Incerti is not swimming.
Did you want MOC or Jack swimming the heat? She was 7th at trials, and Titmus not on the team, so was always likely to swim this relay heat.
Frankly, yes. They only rested McKeon from heats in Tokyo.
Her history is such that her card should’ve been marked years ago. I would NOT have selected her for Tokyo and I would not have selected her this year. In all justice, she should not wear blame for the Tokyo 4X200 misfire as she really should not have been swimming the final without any previous swims ….. thanks on the coaches. Since she IS here, have her swim the 4×200 heats but she has no pedigree as a 100 swimmer.
Cate Campbell didn’t swim the heat so they didn’t ‘only’ rest McKeon.
Neale swam a 54.17 at trials which is probably faster than the slowest swimmer on the vast majority of the heats.
The problem in the 4×200 was actually the first 2 splits, each over a second slower than anticipated, rather than Neale’s swim.
I think she’s actually consistently improved over the last few years, but as the CWG non-selection shows, she’s not a finals swimmer when the Aust team is at its best.
Interesting order from the Aussies – fastest to slowest on PBs I think. Assuming they are giving Throssell as much rest as possible.
They did that in finals of the Women’s 800 Free relay in Tokyo and we all know how well that worked out for them…
Don’t remind me!
I still haven’t rewatched that race.
And the news reported it as a victory by going under the old WR. I was like “ummmm clearly they don’t know we should have won good easily”
They did that to give Titmus another chance at the WR which was a terrible strategy.
But this is a different event and the final will definitely have the anchor as the fastest.
Sates no-show? This should not be allowed at this level. At least have the decency to scratch.
Surprised Douglass on lead off, would’ve thought Comerford
Dean rested in prelims for GB, as is Abbie Wood in the Women’s relay.
Interesting that Kibler and Incerti are rested for final. Believe Incerti is swimming the 200F individually so maybe they want to manage his load since he’ll be swimming a bunch of relays too.. but Kibler? He is a relay-only swimmer right? Maybe he showed something at training camp that warrants the coaches putting him straight into finals.
Kibler is swimming the 200 free individually so not relay only
Kilber has individual 200 free. He should be either in very good or very bad form for coaches to make this decision. Maybe we will have more clue when the final’s lineups come out.
Kibler has virtually never flopped at a big meet. I imagine he’s in real good shape.
Surely he wouldn’t have devolved so badly since trials that he can’t even be let on a relay heat? Surely it’s because he’s in good form
Just guessing he is sick or injured
is Kibler in some really good form?
He should be if he doesn’t have to swim prelims.
Or he’s sick and they chose to not use him at all. Hope it’s what you said and not that though.
Judging from his most recent Instagram post, he’s fine.
Hopefully he was dropping 47’s from a push in camp