Swimming at the Summer Olympic Games Paris 2024

[Topicmaster1010 5,759]

Relay Power Rankings: Women's 4x100m Medley Relay

 

 

Other Power Rankings:

Men's 4x100m Freestyle Relay

Men's 4x200m Freestyle Relay

Men's 4x100m Medley Relay

Women's 4x100m Freestyle Relay

Women's 4x200m Freestyle Relay

 

 

Time to take a closer look at the Women's 4x100m Freestyle Relay!

 

16.  Singapore - 4:07.44

• Backstroke: Levenia Sim - 1:01.99
• Breaststroke: Letitia Sim - 1:06.97
• Butterfly: Jing Wen Quah - 59.30
• Freestyle: Ching Hwee Gan - 1:00.68

 

Unfortunately, Singapore was put into a tough situation for this relay. Ting Wen Quah (who has a best time of 55.82 in the 100m freestyle this year) was supposed to be on the medley relay when World Aquatics informed the Singapore Swim federation that Ching Hwee Gan had received an OCT invite to compete in the 800 and 1500m freestyles. However, they would have to leave off one of their current relay members. As such, Ting Wen Quah was the sacrificial lamb in all of this and Gan will be swimming the freestyle leg. However, looking at the rest of these rankings, it looks like it wouldn't have made much of a difference. Letitia Sim on the breaststroke leg is the only leg that really stands out.

 

15.  Hong Kong - 4:00.67

• Backstroke: Stephanie Au - 1:00.68
• Breaststroke: Siobhan Haughey - 1:05.92
• Butterfly: Natalie Kan - 1:00.36
• Freestyle: Hoi Lam Tam - 55.01

 

Siobhan Haughey is has the best times from her nation in the breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle but for this relay, it looks like she'll be on the breaststroke leg. Hong Kong probably wishes they could clone her 3 more times. Like with Singapore, the breaststroke leg is the only leg that stands out.

 

14.  Denmark - 3:59.35

• Backstroke: Schastine Tabor - 1:01.11
• Breaststroke: Thea Blomsterberg - 1:07.17
• Butterfly: Martine Damborg - 58.09
• Freestyle: Signe Bro - 54.48

 

Martine Damborg is a promising young butterfly talent and could drop more time. Thea Blomsterberg is a better 200m breaststroker but that 1:07.17 time is a PB from just a few months ago.

 

13.  Poland - 3:57.61

• Backstroke: Adela Piskorska - 59.79
• Breaststroke: Dominika Sztandera - 1:07.17
• Butterfly: Paulina Peda - 58.14
• Freestyle: Kornelia Fiedkiewicz - 54.01

 

A little bit surprised to see Poland here. All of their legs either are under the OQT or just over it. Sztandera has been as quick as 1:06.42 on the breaststroke leg which would help shave off some time.

 

12.  Ireland - 3:56.88

• Backstroke: Danielle Hill - 59.11
• Breaststroke: Mona Mc Sharry - 1:06.11
• Butterfly: Ellen Walshe - 58.07
• Freestyle: Grace Davison - 55.09

 

Ireland should have a good front half of the relay with Hill and Mc Sharry as both are ranked in the top 20 in the world in their strokes. Ellen Walshe should be decent on the butterfly leg but the freestyle leg is too weak compared to the other countries here.

 

11.  Germany - 3:56.60

• Backstroke: Laura Riedemann - 1:00.96
• Breaststroke: Anna Elendt - 1:06.81
• Butterfly: Angelina Koehler - 56.11
• Freestyle: Nina Holt - 54.22

 

2024 World Champion Angelina Koehler is the standout name on this relay. Germany will also hope that Anna Elendt can get back to the form that won her bronze at the 2022 World Championships.

 

10.  Italy - 3:56.23

• Backstroke: Margherita Panziera - 1:00.60
• Breaststroke: Benedetta Pilato - 1:05.44
• Butterfly: Costanza Cocconcelli - 57.77
• Freestyle: Sofia Morini - 53.92

 

Italy will feature 4 solid legs here highlighted by Benedetta Pilato on breaststroke who has the 5th fastest time this year. Margherita has been as quick as 58.92 in her career but hasn't been under a minute since 2022.

 

9.  France - 3:55.79

• Backstroke: Emma Terebo - 58.79
• Breaststroke: Charlotte Bonnet - 1:07.30
• Butterfly: Marie Wattel - 57.49
• Freestyle: Beryl Gastaldello - 53.71

 

France has 3 very good legs here but the breaststroke is a big weakness. Charlotte Bonnet did split 1:06.49 at the 2022 European Championships. If she can replicate that, France should make the final.

 

8.  Japan - 3:55.01

• Backstroke: Rio Shirai - 1:00.27
• Breaststroke: Reona Aoki - 1:05.76
• Butterfly: Mizuki Hirai - 56.33
• Freestyle: Rikako Ikee - 54.15

 

Thanks to a stunning 56.33 100m butterfly performance at a recent high school meet by Mizuki Hirai, Japan has moved into the top 8 in these rankings. She's the standout on this relay. Reona Aoki on breaststroke should also be a strength.

 

7.  Great Britain - 3:54.79

• Backstroke: Kathleen Dawson - 59.74
• Breaststroke: Angharad Evans - 1:05.54
• Butterfly: Keanna MacInnes - 57.92
• Freestyle: Anna Hopkin - 53.09

 

The backstroke with the best time this year, Lauren Cox, failed to make the British team. However, the medley relay gets a big boost with the ascension of Angharad Evans in breaststroke. She's ranked 6th in the world this year. Butterfly will be a weakness compared to other teams but Anna Hopkin is a reliable freestyler.

 

6.  Sweden - 3:54.72

• Backstroke: Hanna Rosvall - 1:00.88
• Breaststroke: Sophie Hansson - 1:05.83
• Butterfly: Louise Hansson - 56.94
• Freestyle: Sarah Sjoestroem - 52.57

 

Sarah Sjoestroem hasn't raced a 100m butterfly this year BUT even if we take her time from last year and swapped the swimmers around, it would still be slower than this current quartet. That's just how good Sjoestroem has been on freestyle this year. The potential for a medal has always been there for Sweden. Is this the year that all 4 swimmers finally put it together?

 

5.  Netherlands - 3:53.96

• Backstroke: Kira Toussaint - 1:00.00
• Breaststroke: Tes Schouten - 1:05.82
• Butterfly: Tessa Giele - 57.38
• Freestyle: Marrit Steenbergen - 52.26

 

This is the team that everybody is sleeping on. Not a single person in the swimswam comments section thought the Dutch team could contend for a medal but if you look at the cumulative times, they are close to the team above them in the rankings which everyone says has a chance at a medal. Both Schouten and Steenbergen are elite at their strokes and Tessa Giele has made significant improvements on butterfly this year. Toussaint has been as quick as 58.65 in 2021. If she can at least get under a minute like she did last year, the Dutch team could challenge for a medal.

 

4.  Canada - 3:53.30

• Backstroke: Kylie Masse - 57.94
• Breaststroke: Sophie Angus - 1:06.66
• Butterfly: Maggie Mac Neil - 56.54
• Freestyle: Penny Oleksiak - 53.66

 

3rd time in 3 women's relays that Canada has placed 4th in the power rankings. What to make of this relay? Maggie hasn't replicated her Tokyo performances since then but she's always clutch in relays. I would expect her to do well again here. After struggling last year, Kylie Masse has shown signs that she's back in form going 57.94 at Canadian Trials, her first time under 58 seconds since Tokyo. Penny Oleksiak is also slowly rounding into form. After being injured last year, she finally got under 54 seconds at Canadian Trials. If she can split in the 52 second range, that would be a big boost for this relay. And then there's the breaststroke leg. Always the weakness to this Canadian relay. There was excitement heading in to Olympic Trials with 3 swimmers having gone under the OQT during the qualification period but no one was under the OQT at trials. The good news is that Angus won the race and she's been the best relay breaststroker in the last year so hopefully she has another drop in her.

 

3.  Australia - 3:51.45

• Backstroke: Kaylee McKeown - 57.41
• Breaststroke: Ella Ramsay - 1:06.87
• Butterfly: Emma McKeon - 56.40
• Freestyle: Mollie O'Callaghan - 52.27

 

Just like with Canada, Australia's weakness is also in the breaststroke leg. However, they have arguably the best 100m backstroker and freestyler to help make up for that weakness. It'll be interesting to see what kind of form Emma McKeon is here. She struggled at trials coming off an injury.

 

2.  China - 3:50.95

• Backstroke: Wan Letian - 59.02
• Breaststroke: Tang Qianting - 1:04.39
• Butterfly: Zhang Yufei - 56.36
• Freestyle: Yang Junxuan - 52.68

 

China finished 4th at World Championships last year but they are primed to be on the podium this year. That's in large part thanks to the emergence of Tang Qianting on breaststroke who at Chinese trials, went 1:04.39 to become the 4th fastest performer of all time. Also at those trials, Yang Junxuan set a massive PB of 52.68 in the 100m freestyle. China's weakness will be on the backstroke leg. As long as they are 2 seconds or less behind the leaders, it should be enough ground for Tang to make up.

 

1.  United States - 3:48.80

• Backstroke: Regan Smith - 57.13
• Breaststroke: Lilly King - 1:05.43
• Butterfly: Gretchen Walsh - 55.18
• Freestyle: Kate Douglass - 52.56

 

So on this relay, you have 3 current world record holders (of which two were set this year) + arguably the most talented/versatile swimmer in the world in Kate Douglass. Need I say more?

Edited July 24, 2024 by Topicmaster1010

[dullard 744]

Better previews than at SwimSwam.  Just one more to go.

[Vic Liu 1,699]

Japanese media reported the the depth of swimming pool is around 2.2m which is less than 2.5m standard required by FINA and if will affect start and turn.

[dullard 744]

It doesn't only affect the start and turn. Waves disperse better in a deeper pool. The best pools are 3+ metres.

[RussB 189]

How can we get to the week before the competition starts and only now someone realises the pool is less than minimum depth required? Surely this is fake news?! this is the Olympics ffs.

[tirtha22 238]

It is so amazing to think that the same arena hosted matches of the French Rugby union team and Racing 92 club.

It has also hosted concerts like Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Pink, Rammstein, Elton John, Iron Maiden & Taylor Swift to name a few even a few months back.

[Boris 1]

5 hours ago, Vic Liu said:

Japanese media reported the the depth of swimming pool is around 2.2m which is less than 2.5m standard required by FINA and if will affect start and turn.

According to FINA rules the minimum depth is 2m and 3m is recommended when it is also used for other disciplines like artistic swimming.

 

https://resources.fina.org/fina/document/2022/02/08/77c3058d-b549-4543-8524-ad51a857864e/210805-Facilities-Rules_clean.pdf

 

[orangeman 2,344]

If Canada gets 4th in all the women's relays I will.....sit here and take it like I have every other Olympics. 

[Josh 11,972]

6 minutes ago, orangeman said:

If Canada gets 4th in all the women's relays I will.....sit here and take it like I have every other Olympics. 

But usually we win bronze at the Olympics in the women’s relays, don’t we? 

[orangeman 2,344]

Just now, Josh said:

But usually we win bronze at the Olympics in the women’s relays, don’t we? 

I just meant Canada generally.