2017 FINA World Championships: 4x200m Freestyle Relays Breakdown

This article previews the 2017 FINA World Championships. Specifically, FloSwimming predicts the men's and women's 4x200 meter freestyle relay at the 2017 FINA World Championships for swimming.

Jul 22, 2017 by Maclin Simpson

2017 FINA World Championships

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

With the 2017 FINA World Championships just one day away, we're taking a deep dive into the 4x200m freestyle relay on both the men's and women's side.

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.

The women's 4x200m freestyle relay will take place on Thursday, July 27, and the men's will take place on Friday, July 28.

Men 4x200m Freestyle Relay

USA	2017 Best
Haas	1:45.03
Pieroni	1:46.30
Grothe	1:46.39
Smith	1:47.10
*2017 add up*	*7:04.82*

GREAT BRITAIN	2017 Best
Guy	1:45.55
Scott	1:45.80
Jarvis	1:47.02
Grainger	1:47.28
*2017 add up*	*7:05.65*

RUSSIA	2017 Best
Dovgalyuk	1:46.89
Vekovishchev	1:47.01
Krasnykh	1:47.12
Izotov	1:47.16
*2017 add up*	*7:08.18*

CHINA	2017 Best
Sun	1:44.91
Wang	1:46.57
Ma	1:48.10
Qian	1:48.83
*2017 add up*	*7:08.41*

AUSTRALIA	2017 Best
Horton	1:46.83
Cartwright	1:47.31
Graham	1:47.39
Smith	1:47.57
*2017 add up*	*7:09.10*

JAPAN	2017 Best
Ehara	1:47.02
Hagino	1:47.10
Matsumoto	1:47.59
Seto	1:47.76
*2017 add up*	*7:09.47*

ITALY	2017 Best
Detti	1:46.38
Megli	1:47.38
D'Arrigo	1:47.52
Magnini	1:48.32
*2017 add up*	*7:09.60*

GERMANY	2017 Best
Zellmann	1:47.14
Rapp	1:47.70
Heintz	1:47.93
Heidtmann	1:48.22
*2017 add up*	*7:10.99*

Great Britain is shaping up to be a long-term contender in this relay in the post-Michael Phelps era. Champions in 2015 thanks to a huge anchor of 1:44.74 from individual world champion James Guy, the Brits handed the USA its first loss in this event since 2003. With Phelps back in the fold in Rio, the USA was able to win its fourth straight Olympic gold medal in the event -- with Phelps and Lochte present in all four of those championship teams.

Neither will be present in Budapest, so it is up to fresh-faced newcomer Townley Haas to lead the team. His 1:45.03 at U.S Nationals blasted away the field and was faster than he swam for fifth in the Olympic final last summer. In Rio, his 1:44.1 second-leg split proved a huge turning point in the race against the Brits. Following Haas, Team USA has a mix of fresh blood and experience with Blake Pieroni and Zane Grothe popping 1:46.3s at U.S Nationals a few weeks back, Clark Smith (1:47.10), and even individual Rio bronze medalist Conor Dwyer hiding in the back. To cement their insane depth, the Americans also have a busy Caeleb Dressel (1:47.4) up their sleeve.

Great Britain is hot on the USA's tail with a 2017 add-up time of 7:05.65, led by the defending world champ Guy (1:45.55) and 100m freestyle world No. 1 Duncan Scott (1:45.80). Building up their depth, the Brits have Calum Jarvis, Nicholas Grainger, Max Litchfield, and Stephen Milne -- who have all posted 1:47s this year.

The fight for the bronze should be between Australia, led by Mack Horton (1:46.83 earlier this year), Russia with Olympic finalist Alexandr Krasnykh leading the new generation, Japan -- ever consistent with Kosuke Hagino needing to get close to his personal best of 1:45.2, and China -- if it can find a pair of swimmers to join its two studs in Sun Yang (2016 Olympic champion) and Wang Shun (1:46.57 this year).

Predictions

1.) Great Britain
2.) USA
3.) Japan

Women 4x200m Freestyle Relay

USA	2017 Best
Ledecky	1:54.84
Smith	1:56.68
Margalis	1:56.90
Comerford	1:56.95
*2017 add up*	*7:45.37*

CHINA	2017 Best
Al	1:56.72
Li	1:56.74
Shen	1:56.79
Liu	1:57.06
*2017 add up*	*7:47.31*

AUSTRALIA	2017 Best
McKeon	1:55.68
Wilson	1:57.68
Sheridan	1:57.84
Titmus	1:57.90
*2017 add up*	*7:49.10*

JAPAN	2017 Best
Ikee	1:56.33
Igarashi	1:57.10
Aoki	1:58.33
Takano	1:58.77
*2017 add up*	*7:50.53*

CANADA	2017 Best
Savard	1:57.13
Harvey	1:57.81
Ruck	1:58.24
Sanchez	1:58.28
*2017 add up*	*7:51.46*

RUSSIA	2017 Best
Popova	1:57.22
Guzhenkova	1:57.38
Andreeva	1:58.25
Krivonogova	1:58.62
*2017 add up*	*7:51.47*

HUNGARY	2017 Best
Hosszu	1:56.81
Kesely	1:57.85
Verraszto	1:58.44
Jakabos	1:59.33
*2017 add up*	*7:52.43*

ITALY	2017 Best
Pellegrini	1:55.94
Mizzau	1:57.77
Pirozzi	1:58.94
Mascolo	1:59.99
*2017 add up*	*7:52.64*

The American women look to continue their domination in this event, thanks largely to Katie Ledecky. Followed by Leah Smith, Melanie Margalis, and newcomer Mallory Comerford all posting best times in the 1:56 range just last month at U.S Nationals, Team USA should have no troubles handling this one in Budapest.

China is poised to get back on the podium in this event due in large part to its tremendous depth and consistency -- four swimmers all in the 1:56 range.

Several other countries will push for podium places as well but need a big step up in their support crew to get there. Star swimmers such as Emma McKeon of Australia, Federica Pellegrini of Italy, Katinka Hosszu of Hungary, Rikako Ikee of Japan, and Swedish duo Michelle Coleman and Sarah Sjöström will lead their teams -- but who will step up to help them?