A Look at How the Seven Relays Are Shaping Up for the Tokyo Olympics BY DAVID RIEDER
W
ith just weeks remaining until the Tokyo Olympics swimming competition begins on July 24, it’s time to look at how the relay events stand for these Games. After the past six Olympics featured six total relays (women’s and men’s 400 free, 800 free and 400 medley relays), the 2021 edition will add the mixed 400 medley relay, consisting of two female and male swimmers, in whatever order a particular country decides to swim. At the 2016 Olympics in Rio, the Americans won five of the six relays on the program, all except the women’s 400 free relay, where Australia took gold. This time, almost all the relays are shaping up to be extremely competitive battles, with only Australia looking significantly superior to its competition in the women’s freestyle relays. Below, you will see composites of the top four flat-start times from each country for each relay event to see how the countries are stacking up in each event a few weeks out from Tokyo. Plenty will change at the Olympics as some swimmers are quicker and others slower, but this is how everything looks on paper right now. Only times swum during the calendar year 2021 will be considered for this exercise. Women’s 400 Free Relay At Australia’s Olympic Trials last month, four swimmers went under 53 seconds in the 100 free. All the other 22
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significant medal contenders have combined for one sub53-second performance. Australians Emma McKeon, Cate Campbell and Madison Wilson hold the top three times in the world right now in this event, and while Meg Harris finished fourth at Australia’s Trials, former world champion Bronte Campbell could also factor in here. Meanwhile, the United States earned silver behind Australia at the last Olympics and last World Championships, but the 100 free at its Olympic Trials lacked top-end speed (although there was no shortage of depth). We’ll see if there can be any significant improvements or if a swimmer like Simone Manuel or Torri Huske or even Katie Ledecky might be added to provide a boost. If not, the Americans could face a major challenge for even silver. Australia: Emma McKeon 52.19 + Cate Campbell 52.59 + Madison Wilson 52.76 + Meg Harris 52.92 = 3:30.46 United States: Abbey Weitzeil 53.52 + Olivia Smoliga 53.55 + Natalie Hinds 53.55 + Erika Brown 53.59 = 3:34.39 Great Britain: Freya Anderson 53.40 + Anna Hopkin 53.43 + Lucy Hope 53.89 + Abbey Wood 53.90 = 3:34.62 Netherlands: Femke Heemskerk 53.05 + Ranomi Kromowidjojo 53.13 + Marrit Steenbergen 54.13 + Kim Busch 54.59 = 3:34.90 Canada: Penny Oleksiak 52.89 + Kayla Sanchez 53.57 + Maggie MacNeil 54.02 + Rebecca Smith 54.44 = 3:34.92
[ PHOTO BY BECCA WYANT ]
>> Australia will be a significant factor in most relays at the Olympics
