Paris Olympics: Matt Richards, Kai Taylor, Summer McIntosh on Relays (Relay Names)
Great Britain subbed in Matt Richards to the 400 freestyle relay, while the U.S. adds its two top sprinters to Saturday’s Olympic final.
The U.S. will add Jack Alexy and Chris Guiliano, swimming first and second respectively, to the final of the 400 free relay at the Paris La Defense Arena. Hunter Armstrong, who delivered the fastest leg of the morning at 47.50, is swimming third again at night, with Caeleb Dressel anchoring. Dressel went 48.19 in the morning.
It’ll be a fast start, with most teams opting to put their strongest guy out first. Canada, fifth in the morning, moved Josh Liendo to the front of an unchanged squad. Richards comes in for Alexander Cohoon, who split a more than respectable 47.91 in the morning, to join Jacob Whittle and Tom Dean for Great Britain.
Italy’s two additions, Alessandro Miressi and Thomas Ceccon, will swim 1-2. Paolo Conte Bonin and Manuel Frigo round out Italy’s quartet.
Pan Zhanle, who anchored in the morning for China, will lead off after a 46.98 split in the morning.
Australia made perhaps the most notable swap, with William Yang, who split 48.39 in the morning despite having come second at Trials, out and Kai Taylor in. He’ll join Jack Cartwright, Flynn Southam and Kyle Chalmers, the 2016 Rio champ in the 100 free anchoring.
On the women’s side, the U.S. picked Simone Manuel from the crowd of 53s in the morning, her second-leg swim of 53.23 getting her a second swim. Abbey Weitzeil had led off in 53.60, with Erika Connolly in 53.60. Manuel anchored the U.S. to gold in the 400 medley relay in Rio.
Kate Douglass will lead off, handing to Gretchen Walsh and Torri Huske. Douglass has been something of an anchor specialist. She brought home relay golds in the women’s medley in Fukuoka and the mixed medley in Doha and anchored the women’s 400 free to silver in 2023.
It’ll be tough to stop the three-time reigning Olympic champions. The Aussies switch in 100 free medal contenders Mollie O’Callaghan and Shanya Jack. Emma McKeon’s 51.94 means she’ll augment Meg Harris in the final. The lone surprise is Harris anchoring.
China swapped Zhang Yufei in for Yu Yiting. Zhang, like Walsh and Huske, is on the back end of a double. China finished third in prelims.
Sweden added Louise Hansson to the anchor leg for finals. It had been fourth in prelims, with Sarah Sjostrom splitting 51.99. She’ll move to the leadoff leg. They join Sara Junevik and Michelle Coleman.
Canada was sixth in prelims but makes two changes. Penny Oleksiak will anchor with Taylor Ruck second, but Maggie Mac Neil comes in to lead off. Summer McIntosh will swim the third leg. She has been 53.90.
France stands to gain a second with Marie Wattel on the anchor, in for Lison Nowaczyk.
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