Editorial content for the 2023 World Aquatics Championships is sponsored by FINIS, a longtime partner of Swimming World and leading innovator of suits, goggles and equipment. World Championships, Day Eight Prelims: United States Nails Down Top Seed In Men’s 400 Medley Relay Reigning champion Italy will not get the chance to defend its title in the 400-meter medley relay at the World Championships. Despite having Thomas Ceccon and Nicolo Martinenghi on the front two legs, the Italians placed ninth and finished .27 behind Great Britain for the eighth and final slot in the final. The United States claimed the top seed, as the squad of Hunter Armstrong, Josh Matheny, Thomas Heilman and Matt King turned in a time of 3:30.51. Armstrong led off with a backstroke split of 52.45 and Matheny followed on the breaststroke leg with a time of 59.12. Heilman then contributed a butterfly split of 51.61 before King anchored on freestyle in 47.33. In the final, Team USA is likely to go with a lineup of Ryan Murphy, Nic Fink, Dare Rose and Jack Alexy. France posted the second-fastest time of the morning behind the foursome of Mewen Tomac, Leon Marchand, Maxime Grousset and Hadrien Salvan. The French touched the wall in 3:31.61, with Australia next at 3:31.75 and China fourth in 3:31.89. China might be the biggest threat to the United States in the final, due to the presence of Qin Haiyang on the breaststroke leg. The question for China is whether it can get a serviceable butterfly leg to remain in contention.
