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article on the problems the US will face in the 4x 100 freestyle relay (swimming):
U.S. 400 Freestyle Relay Could Be in Big Trouble -- June 28, 2012
OMAHA, Nebraska, June 28. IS it time to be concerned about the United States' men's 400 freestyle relay? Absolutely. It was one thing to see a sluggish preliminary session at the Olympic Trials, but when the semifinals didn't produce anything noteworthy, or much depth, the red flag shot into the air at the CenturyLink Center.
At a time when a contending country for the gold medal needs to have at least one 47-point performer, the United States failed to inspire. Only Nathan Adrian and Jimmy Feigen managed to race below 48.50, and barely achieved that feat. Adrian led the way into the championship final with a clocking of 48.33 while Feigen checked in at 48.48.
Perhaps we'll see some faster results when Olympic bids are on the line in the final, but optimism isn't exactly in the air. The next-best times behind Adrian and Feigen came from Matt Grevers (48.71) and Ricky Berens (48.85). Really, the rest of the world must be feeling pretty good about toppling the United States, especially Australia.
At the Aussie Trials in March, James Magnussen and James Roberts threw down the gauntlet with respective times of 47.10 and 47.63. More important, they were backed up by strong showings from Matt Targett (48.32) and Eamon Sullivan (48.53). Remember, the times of Targett and Sullivan are for the third- and fourth-place finishers.
http://www.swimmingworldm...-Could-Be-in-Big-Trouble
With France and Russia boasting solid lineups, a failure by the United States to find some magic could actually lead to a missed podium. Never in Olympic history, barring the 1980 Games, has the United States failed to medal in the 400 free relay. Of course, 1980 was the yea
U.S. 400 Freestyle Relay Could Be in Big Trouble -- June 28, 2012
OMAHA, Nebraska, June 28. IS it time to be concerned about the United States' men's 400 freestyle relay? Absolutely. It was one thing to see a sluggish preliminary session at the Olympic Trials, but when the semifinals didn't produce anything noteworthy, or much depth, the red flag shot into the air at the CenturyLink Center.
At a time when a contending country for the gold medal needs to have at least one 47-point performer, the United States failed to inspire. Only Nathan Adrian and Jimmy Feigen managed to race below 48.50, and barely achieved that feat. Adrian led the way into the championship final with a clocking of 48.33 while Feigen checked in at 48.48.
Perhaps we'll see some faster results when Olympic bids are on the line in the final, but optimism isn't exactly in the air. The next-best times behind Adrian and Feigen came from Matt Grevers (48.71) and Ricky Berens (48.85). Really, the rest of the world must be feeling pretty good about toppling the United States, especially Australia.
At the Aussie Trials in March, James Magnussen and James Roberts threw down the gauntlet with respective times of 47.10 and 47.63. More important, they were backed up by strong showings from Matt Targett (48.32) and Eamon Sullivan (48.53). Remember, the times of Targett and Sullivan are for the third- and fourth-place finishers.
http://www.swimmingworldm...-Could-Be-in-Big-Trouble
With France and Russia boasting solid lineups, a failure by the United States to find some magic could actually lead to a missed podium. Never in Olympic history, barring the 1980 Games, has the United States failed to medal in the 400 free relay. Of course, 1980 was the yea