Rio 2016 Olympic Preview: Japan Primed For 1-2 Finish In Men’s 400 IM

Men’s 400 IM

• 2012 Olympic Champion: Ryan Lochte (USA), 4:05.18
• 2015 World Champion: Daiya Seto (JPN), 4:08.50
• World Record (2008): Michael Phelps (USA), 4:03.84

Like the backstroke events, the 400 IM is an event the American men have dominated internationally for the last 20 years. The legacy of five straight titles from the names of Dolan, Phelps and Lochte finds itself in serious jeopardy this year with a formidable duo from Japan: Kosuke Hagino and Daiya Seto.

Hagino comes in as the favorite as the only returning Olympic medalist from London in this event, despite the fact he’s picked up zero LC World Championship medals in the event since London. Hagino paid the consequences of a monstrous schedule in 2013, losing a race that should’ve been his on the last 50, while he skipped the 2015 Championships altogether with an injury. He swam a personal best of 4:07.61 in early 2013, and did two more 4:07s in 2014. He leads the world rankings this year with his 4:08.85 from the Japanese Olympic Trials, and has been putting up consistent times in the lead-up to the Olympics. He’s posted times of 4:10, 4:09 and 4:11 all within ten days of each other in early June, signalling he is ready to go for Rio. It would be an upset if he didn’t win.

Though Hagino would have to be considered the favorite, Seto has been the best swimmer in this event since the last Olympics. He has won all four World Championship titles (2 LC, 2 SC) that have taken place since London, beating Hagino head-to-head on three of those occasions. His wins in 2012 and 2013 over Hagino were impressive, but it seemed the 2014 Short Course World Championships would be where Hagino, after swimming so well throughout the long course season, would beat his countryman on the big stage. Seto would have none of it. He obliterated the field, beating runner-up Hagino by nearly five seconds and just missing the world record. He backed everything up winning his fourth world title in four years last summer in Kazan. Though Hagino has consistently beaten Seto handily in-season, Seto always turns up when it matters most, and this summer should be no different. With the added benefit of this event being on the opening day of the competition rather than the last day like it is at Worlds, we could see both men drop some fast times.

Though the Americans streak of five straight wins is seriously under fire, their streak of seven straight medals in the event is in good hands with North Baltimore’s Chase Kalisz. Kalisz has won consecutive medals at the World Championships with a silver in 2013 and a bronze last year, and is coming off the biggest win of his life taking the US Olympic Trials in 4:09.54. He’ll need to drop at least two seconds from his lifetime best of 4:09.22 to contend for the gold, but is a good bet for a medal as one of only two men under 4:10 this year.

Joining Kalisz in Rio representing the United States is his fellow Georgia Bulldog Jay Litherland, who ran down defending Olympic champion Ryan Lochte at the Olympic Trials to leave the two-time world champion out of the event. Litherland won the gold medal in this event at the World University Games last year in 4:12.43 thanks to a blazing 56.42 final 100m, and improved his best time down to 4:11.02 at Trials to sit 4th in the world this year. Litherland should easily give the US two men in the final, but will likely be battling for 4th behind Hagino, Seto and Kalisz. However, if he’s within striking distance of a medal with 100m to go, you never know.

Another guy who knows how to bring home the freestyle leg of a 400 IM is German Jacob Heidtmann, who finished 5th at the World Championships last year thanks to a speedy final 50 of 27.13 to move past two men. Heidtmann has seen some major improvements over the last two years and has posted consistent results this year including two runner-up finishes to Hagino on the Mare Nostrum Tour in June. Heidtmann figures to be a finalist, but like Litherland will be in tough to surpass the perennial top three.

Last summers World silver medalist David Verraszto will also be in the hunt after cracking 4:10 for the first time in Kazan (4:09.90). He has few 4:12s under his belt already this season indicating he’s on good form, though a medal is a tall task. He’ll almost certainly have to lower his best time by at least a second to contend for a medal.

Others who will be searching for a spot in the final will be Great Britain’s Max Litchfield, Italy’s Federico Turrini and Australia’s Thomas Fraser-Holmes. Litchfield took nearly three seconds off his best time at British Trials to sneak under their automatic qualifying time by 0.03 in 4:12.05, ranking him 8th in the world for 2016. Turrini sits two spots ahead of Litchfield in the world rankings after going 4:11.95 at the Italian Championships, while Fraser-Holmes is another spot up at 5th in the world due to his 4:11.09 at the Aussie Trials. Turrini and Fraser-Holmes both swam significantly slower in Kazan then they did during the year in 2015 missing the World Championship final, something they can’t afford to do this time around. The average time to qualify for the final at the last two Olympics is 4:12.53, so all three will have to be right around their best times to ensure a spot.

Dark Horse: China’s Wang Shun, who was ranked 2nd in the world in 2013 at 4:09.10, hasn’t really competed in the event much since, making him the ultimate dark horse. Wang did that time just a month after the World Championships were won in 4:08.69, though he didn’t swim the event at Worlds. He did finish 4th in the 200 IM in Barcelona, and won bronze in that event last year, but has been absent from the 400 IM at any high level meet until this years Chinese Championships, where he posted a 12th ranked 4:13.62. Based on where his 200 IM was last year, Wang could be a surprise medal threat that comes in and threatens Japan’s stake for a 1-2 finish.