2017 FINA World Championships: 4x100m Freestyle Relays Breakdown

This article previews the 2017 FINA World Championships. Specifically, FloSwimming predicts the men's and women's freestyle relay at the 2017 FINA World Championships for swimming.

Jul 20, 2017 by Maclin Simpson

2017 FINA World Championships

July 23-30, 2017
Budapest, Hungary
Dagály Aquatics Arena
SCHEDULE
LIVE RESULTS

With the 2017 FINA World Championships just three days away, we're taking a deep dive into the most anticipated relays of the meet -- the men's and women's 4x100m freestyle relays. Below are the top eight teams ranked (including splits) when the four best individual flat-start performances are added up. Keep in mind: the add up times below do not factor in relay splits.

Both the men's and women's 4x100m freestyle relays are slated for Sunday, July 23 -- the first day of competition.

Men 4x100m Freestyle Relay

USA	2017 Best
Adrian	47.96
Dressel	47.97
Apple	48.14
Haas	48.20
*2017 add up*	*3:12.17*

BRAZIL	2017 Best
Santos	48.11
Chierighini	48.46
Fratus	48.50
Cielo	48.92
2017 add up	3:13.97

AUSTRALIA	2017 Best
McEvoy	47.91
Cartwright	48.43
Incerti	49.03
Graham	49.19
*2017 add up*	*3:14.56*

RUSSIA	2017 Best
Morozov	48.28
Izotov	48.53
Arbuzov	49.05
Korolev	49.13
*2017 add up*	*3:14.99*

ITALY	2017 Best
Dotto	48.66
Miressi	48.71
Magnini	48.85
Zazzeri	48.96
*2017 add up*	*3:15.18*

JAPAN	2017 Best
Nakamura	48.26
Shioura	48.66
Matsumoto	49.02
Kobori	49.42
*2017 add up*	*3:15.36*

HUNGARY	2017 Best
Nemeth	48.64
Kozma	48.68
Holoda	48.87
Bohus	49.47
*2017 add up*	*3:15.66*

FRANCE	2017 Best
Metella	48.23
Stravius	48.68
Mignon	49.03
Bourelly	49.75
*2017 add up*	*3:15.69*

The men's 4x100m freestyle relay on day one of the World Championships never fails to surprise. As everyone gets nervous for his first race of the meet, expect the unexpected.

In 2009, it was Team USA causing yet another upset over the star-studded Frenchmen. In 2011, it was Australia, led by a 47.49 opening split from James Magnussen, that upset USA for the gold. In 2013, another heated four-way battle took place between USA, France, Australia, and Russia -- with France coming from behind thanks to a 47.59 clutch anchor from Jeremy Stravius to back up its Olympic gold medal in 2012. In 2015, we saw France win yet again after sluggish performances from the USA and Australia.

This year in Budapest, however, a USA team led by Nathan Adrian (47.96) and Caeleb Dressel (47.97) comes in as the firm favorite through sheer depth of swimmers and an absence of stars from other contending nations. Even in the post-Phelps era, USA comes in clearly with the fastest time on paper with an aggregate of 3:12.27. Dressel is proving to be a breakout superstar and could start his hectic week with a gold medal, along with surprise debut Zach Apple (48.14) and the fearless Townley Haas (48.20).

The Aussies are missing big guns Kyle Chalmers (2016 Olympic champ) due to recent heart surgery and James Magnussen (two-time world champ), who is preparing for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, so they are severely weakened from their Rio bronze medal performance. Australia will still have one of its stars, Cameron McEvoy (47.91), on hand to lead the team out with teenager Jack Cartwright (48.43) -- who is set to make his international debut. Still, the Aussies look a man or two short to make a a serious impact here. The French team also seems to be a leg or two shy of a world-class foursome after the retirements of Florent Manaudou and Fabien Gilot. The reigning and two-time defending world champs aren't even entered in this event.

The teams looking to surge forward atop the podium to begin this new quadrennial are Brazil and Italy, which both have a mixture of new school and old school swimmers. For the Brazilians, their new No. 1-ranked 100m freestyler is 21-year-old Gabriel Santos with a quick 48.11, followed by consistent veterans Marcelo Chierighini (48.46), Bruno Fratus (48.50), and Cesar Cielo (48.92). Likewise, the Italians introduce rising stars Alessandro Miressi (48.71) and Lorenzo Zazzeri (48.96) to proven performer Luca Dotto (47.9 in 2016) and the ageless Filipo Magnini (47.5 split in 2015) and are in good shape to make the podium as they did in Kazan, Russia, two years ago.

We thoroughly expect the USA to dominate this one and take the gold ahead of a good battle for the silver and bronze between Brazil, Australia, and Italy.

Other contenders for the podium will be Russia with Vlad Morozov and Danila Izotov, Japan with Nakamura, and host nation Hungary with a consistent squad.

Predictions

1.) USA
2.) Brazil
3.) Australia

Women 4x100m Freestyle Relay

USA	2017 Best
Comerford	52.81
Manuel	53.05
Neal	53.59
Worrell	53.87
*2017 add up*	*3:33.32*

AUSTRALIA	2017 Best
B. Campbell	52.85
McKeon	53.12
Jack	53.40
Wilson	54.24
*2017 add up*	*3:33.61*

NETHERLANDS	2017 Best
Kromowidjojo	53.07
Heemskerk	53.75
Steenbergen	53.98
Van Der Meer	54.56
*2017 add up*	*3:35.36*

CANADA	2017 Best
Oleksiak	53.64
Mainville	53.95
Toro	54.14
Van Landeghem	54.16
*2017 add up*	*3:35.89*

SWEDEN	2017 Best
Sjöström	52.08
Coleman	53.36
Hansson	54.79
Lindborg	55.94
*2017 add up*	*3:36.17*

CHINA	2017 Best
Zhu	53.42
Zhang	54.09
Al	54.41
Wu	54.58
*2017 add up*	*3:36.50*

FRANCE	2017 Best
Bonnet	53.65
Gastaldello	54.55
Wattel	55.13
Fabre	55.24
*2017 add up*	*3:37.57*

ITALY	2017 Best
Pellegrini	53.92
Di Pietro	54.11
Ferraioli	55.24
Pezzato	55.37
*2017 add up*	*3:38.64*

Australia enters Budapest under severe pressure to maintain hold of its best relay.

Current world holders? Check. Won the past two Olympics? Check. Defending world champs? Check. Favorites to win in Budapest? Not quite.

In the absence of their leader, 100m freestyle world-record holder Cate Campbell -- who decided to skip this year's major international competition -- the Aussies will be facing a major setback before the race even begins. Even with defending world champion Bronte Campbell (52.85) at the helm and proven relay charger Emma McKeon (53.12) behind her, the Aussies are going to two unproven performers to bring it home. Teenager Shayna Jack stepped up big time at their Trials to place third in 53.40, followed by backstroker Maddi Wilson (54.24) and veterans Brittany Elmslie, Kotuku Ngawati, and Emily Seebohm. They seem one fast leg short of beating this year's new addition -- Team USA.

Mallory Comerford announced herself in a big way last month at the U.S. Trials in Indianapolis, upsetting co-Olympic champ in the 100m freestyle from Rio -- Simone Manuel -- 52.81 to 53.05. Lia Neal (53.59) and Kelsi Worrell (53.87) are also proven relay performers, and it's never bad to have Katie Ledecky up your sleeve and as your fifth swimmer. Ledecky split a 52.7 anchor on last year's Rio silver medal swim.

Any team with Sarah Sjöström on it is going to be dangerous after she swam a blistering 52.08 in-season to just miss the individual world record. Backed up by countrywoman Michelle Coleman (53.36), who is quietly turning herself into a world-class performer, and Louise Hansson of USC (54.79), the Swedes are just one solid performer off a strong medal contending relay. Likewise, the Dutch team will be feeling the absence of teenager Marit Steenbergen due to injury. However, they are left with speedy veterans Ranomi Kromowidjojo (53.07) and Femke Heemskerk (53.75) to lead the team.

The Canadian women are rapidly improving to be one of the stronger women's teams in international swimming. Riding the success of 17-year-old Penny Oleksiak's stunning four-medal performance at the 2016 Rio Olympics, including tied gold in the 100m freestyle, the Canadian women will be looking for a podium finish in Budapest. With a healthy mix of youth and experience, Oleksiak (53.64), Sandrine Mainville (53.85), Michelle Toro (54.14), and Chantal Van Landeghem (54.16) are not far from fighting for the top of the podium very soon.

Predictions

1.) USA
2.) Australia
3.) Canada

Mixed 4x100m Freestyle Relay

The Americans and Australians automatically become favorites here, as the depth of the rosters for both the men's and women's teams get tested throughout the week with heats and finals of these mixed relays.

Team USA can field a full strength team of Nathan Adrian (47.96), Caeleb Dressel (47.97), Mallory Comerford (52.81), and Simone Manuel (53.05). All four of these swimmers are ranked top five in the world in the 100m freestyle.

The Australians have a strong team on paper of Cameron McEvoy (47.91), Jack Cartwright (48.43), Bronte Campbell (52.85), and Emma McKeon (53.12), but not all are proven relay performers.

The Canadians have some firepower and benefit with the mixed relays as their shallow men's roster can still prove effective. With Yuri Kisil (48.6) and Marcus Thormeyer (48.4 split in 2016) combining with stars Penny Oleksiak (52.70 in Rio 2016) and Sandrine Mainville (53.95), the Canadians will strive to reach the podium like they did in 2015.

The Brits come into calculation with world No. 1 Duncan Scott (47.90) leading them through, along with Adam Barrett (48.9), Freya Anderson (54.3), and Siobhan Marie O'Connor (53.8 in 2015).

Russia -- led by Vlad Morozov -- and the Italians -- with veterans Luca Dotto, Filipo Magnini, and Federica Pellegrini -- are relevant as well. They will be hunting for podium finishes and spots in the final at the very least.