Paris Olympics, Day 6: Aussies First in 800 Free Relay as China, U.S. Nurse Medal Hopes

Australia's Mollie O'Callaghan, Shayna Jack and Emma McKeon celebrate after winning the 400 free relay; Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Paris Olympics, Day 6: Aussies First in 800 Free Relay as China, U.S. Nurse Medal Hopes

In the three years since the Tokyo Olympics, the power center of the women’s 800 freestyle relay may have shifted slightly. Like Tokyo, the final will come down to execution between three teams with gold medal hopes.

Australia was the top seed out of prelims Thursday morning at the Paris La Defense Arena and enters as the favorite in the race, but reigning Olympic champion China and the United States will have something to say about it Thursday’s final.

Australia led the way in 7:45.63, a team that will add the top two finishers in the 200 free to the finals relay. China came through prelims in third in 7:52.36, with the United States fourth in 7:52.72.

World record: Australia, 7:37.50 (2023)
Olympic record: China, 7:40.33 (2021)
Tokyo Olympic winner: China, 7:40.33

Lani Pallister led the way in 1:55.74 for the Aussies, returning to the pool after having to scratch the 1500 due to a positive test for COVID-19. Jamie Perkins went 1:56.78, Brianna Throssell went 1:55.82 and Shayna Jack went 1:57.29. Throssell and Pallister will likely join 200 free champ Mollie O’Callaghan and runner-up Ariarne Titmus as the Aussies look to double up on their 400 free title and win this event for the first time since 2008.

China finished third in the second, faster heat, with Hungary in between at 7:52.25. Tang Muhan, Kong Yaqi, Ge Chutong and Liu Yaxin took care of the morning. Ge was 1:57.88, Liu 1:55.84, the only one that stated a convincing case for finals. The Tokyo winning squad included Yang Junxuax, Zhang Yufei and Li Bingjie. Yang and Zhang are probably shoe-ins, though Zhang has the 200 fly final Thursday night. Li has been in indifferent form in Paris.

The Americans will also make three changes, and the prelims squad made it easy on the coaches. Erin Gemmell split 1:56.77, which in all likelihood earned her a spot in the finals squad. Anna Peplowski was 1:57.98 off the front, Simone Manuel 1:58.50 and Alex Shackell a sluggish 1:59.47 on the anchor. Paige Madden, Claire Weinstein and Katie Ledecky are waiting in the wings.

Shackell almost got overtaken by Brazil, charging home with Gabrielle Roncato to finish second in the first heat and fifth overall in 7:52.71.

Great Britain and New Zealand made the final on the back of fast front halves. Freya Anderson and Abbie Wood delivered 1:55s to send Britain on the way to a 7:53.49 for seventh. Erika Fairweather was 1:56.04 to get New Zealand into clear water and let the 1:59s behind her guide them home eighth, nearly a second clear of Italy. Canada got the sixth spot, Mary-Sophie Harvey’s 1:56.58 steering them home safely.

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