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: Katharine Berkoff Leads Off U.S. Mixed Medley as Top Countries Rest Stars (Relay Lineups) Relay action returns to the World Championships Wednesday with the mixed 400 medley relay, and most of the top contending countries are utilizing alternate lineups in prelims to the groupings set to race in the finals session. For the United States, however, the so-called “B” team includes a swimmer already with an individual medal in Fukuoka, 100 backstroke bronze medalist Katharine Berkoff. Click here to view the full lineups. The defending champions will follow Berkoff with Josh Matheny, Dare Rose and Abbey Weitzeil. Both of those men swam in individual finals earlier in the meet while Weitzeil helped the American women to silver in the 400 freestyle relay. Swimming this group in prelims likely means that Ryan Murphy, Nic Fink, Torri Huske and Kate Douglass will be called upon at night. China, seemingly the favorite for gold based on a composite times analysis, will also rest several of its big names, including individual world champions Qin Haiyang (men’s 100 breaststroke) and Zhang Yufei (women’s 100 butterfly). Xu Jiayu will lead off in prelims ahead of Yan Zibei, Wang Yichun and Wu Qingfeng. Australia goes with Bradley Woodward, Sam Williamson, Emma McKeon and Shayna Jack in the morning while the Netherlands, the winners of bronze last year behind the U.S. and Aussies, will swim Maaike de Waard, Arno Kamminga, Nyls Korstanje and Marrit Steenbergen, their full-strength lineup likely to return for the final. Canada’s team includes Maggie Mac Neil on the butterfly leg but no Josh Liendo or Kylie Masse on backstroke, with Ingrid Wilm subbing on that leg, so changes could be in order if the Canadian qualify for the final. Italy has Lorenzo Mora and Federico Poggio on the front half of the relay, with Thomas Ceccon and Nicolo Martinenghi, respectively, waiting in reserve. Great Britain, the Olympic champions in this event, will go with Medi Harris, James Wilby, Jacob Peters and Anna Hopkin, with the only potential change the insertion of Freya Anderson to swim freestyle. Germany could have a good one with Ole Braunschweig, Lucas Matzerath and Angelina Kohler on the squad, and Japan has veterans Ryosuke Irie and Rikako Ikee as bookends.
