2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games
- Pool Swimming: July 27 – August 4, 2024
- Open Water Swimming: August 8 – 9, 2024
- La Défense Arena – Paris, France
- LCM (50 meters)
- Meet Central
- Full Schedule
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By the Numbers: Women’s 4×200 Free Relay
- World Record: 7:37.50 – AUS, (2023)
- World Junior Record: 7:51.47 – CAN, K. Sanchez, P. Oleksiak, R. Smith, T. Ruck (2017)
- Olympic Record: 7:40.33 – CHN, Y. Junxuan, T. Muhan, Z. Yufei, L. Bingjie (2021)
- 2021 Olympic Champion: 7:40.33 – CHN, Y. Junxuan, T. Muhan, Z. Yufei, L. Bingjie
The women’s 4×200 freestyle relay has a full lineup qualified, with 16 countries set to put forth teams to compete in the event in Paris.
Going for the Gold
Australia is the heavy favorite to secure the gold medal in the women’s 4×200 freestyle relay; a stacked roster in the 200 free, Australia practically has this race in the bag.
Australia first broke the world record in the 4×200 free relay back in 2008 and has since flip-flopped possession of the record with China. The country has held the world record since 2022, with the relay team of Mollie O’Callaghan, Ariarne Titmus, Brianna Throssell and Shayna Jack lowering the standard to a time of 7:37.50 at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka.
Aside from holding the world record in the relay itself, Australia also has the two fastest women in the world in the 200 free on their roster. At Australian Swimming Trials, Titmus broke O’Callaghan’s world record in the individual 200 free with a show stopping time of 1:52.23, over half a second under the previous time of 1:52.85. Despite falling just short of Titmus, O’Callaghan was also under her record pace, throwing down a time of 1:52.48.
Rounding out the top four at Australian Swimming Trials was Lani Pallister and Throssell. Newcomer Pallister will be making her Olympic debut this summer, and took 3rd behind O’Callaghan in the 200 with a time of 1:55.57. Olympic veteran Throssell, who was already a member of the world record-breaking Australian relay, placed 4th with a time of 1:55.74.
Titmus, O’Callaghan and Throssell all posted times faster than what they turned in as splits during the 2023 World Championships, meaning that if you add up all four individual 200 free times from the competition, the Australian relay team is shaping up to bring home the gold and potentially shatter their own world record in Paris.
Australian 4×200 Relay Split Comparison
Swimmer | World Record Split | Australian Trials Time |
Ariarne Titmus | 1:52.41 | 1:52.23 |
Mollie O’Callaghan | 1:53.66 | 1:52.48 |
Lani Pallister | — | 1:55.57 |
Brianna Throssell | 1:55.80 | 1:55.74 |
Shayna Jack* | 1:55.63 | — |
TOTAL TIME | 7:37.50 | 7:36.02 |
*Shayna Jack was on the world record relay in 2023, but tied for 5th at Trials with a time of 1:56.22.
Racing for Silver
Three nations are gearing up for a tough battle in the pool in the 4×200 free relay, as China, the United States and Canada will all be vying for silver.
China
With China being one of Australia’s closest competitors in the relay for the last several years, the country is sure to be one to watch when it comes to chasing down a silver medal. China last held the world record in 2021, when the relay team of Yang Junxuan, Tang Muhan, Zhang Yufei and Li Bingjie posted a time of 7:40.33 to win gold at the Olympic Games.
All four members of that squad will be returning to the Games this summer, although it is not confirmed who will be making up the relay team. China has been known to make some odd relay decisions in
![](https://swimswam.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/18_YANG-Junxuan_17-06-22_200_Stile_F-300x135.jpg)
Courtesy of Fabio Cetti
the past, especially when it seemed that a relay would not medal, so there could be some surprises in store in Paris.
At the 2024 Chinese National Swimming Championships, Junxuan won the 200 free with a time of 1:54.37, while Bingjie was runner-up in a time of 1:56.29. Finishing 3rd and 4th was Liu Yaxin, who posted a time of 1:56.56, and Muhan, who swam a time of 1:56.85.
Junxuan tied the opening split that she threw down as the leadoff on the gold medal-winning relay in Tokyo, but Bingjie and Muhan were both slightly off of their times. Adding up the four fastest times in the 200 free from the National Championships would put China at a total time of 7:44.07 for the 4×200 free relay, right around the time that China’s squad posted at the 2023 World Championships.
Vereinigte Staaten
The U.S. will also be trying to chase down a silver medal in Paris. The U.S.’s fastest performance in recent competitions was also the World Championships in Fukuoka, where the team of Erin Gemmell, Katie Ledecky, Bella Sims and Alex Shackell threw down a time of 7:41.38 to bring home a silver medal.
If we assume that the top four finishers in the 200 free from the U.S. Olympic Trials will make up the relay squad at the Paris Games, then Ledecky and Gemmell will be reprising their roles on the relay, only this time likely joined by Claire Weinstein and Paige Madden.
At Trials in June, Ledecky posted a time of 1:55.22 in her individual 200, which is not far off what she split in the relay last summer. Weinstein and Madden took 2nd and 3rd at Trials, turning in times of 1:56.18 and 1:56.36 respectively, both of which are slower than Gemmell’s leadoff time of 1:55.9 in the relay at 2023 Worlds. For her part, Gemmell posted a time of 1:56.75 at Trials, about eight tenths slower than her relay split.
Once again adding up these four fastest times, the U.S. would see a time of 7:44.51 if each swimmer were to match their Trials’ performance. This puts them right in the running with China’s projected relay team and means that it will more than likely come down to who can outswim who in the final in Paris.
Kanada
Canada is also in a position to make a strong play for silver in Paris based on the performances of the nation’s top four swimmers in the 200 free at the Canadian Swimming Trials.
![](https://swimswam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Photo-2023-03-28-7-59-33-PM-300x200.jpg)
Courtesy of Michael P. Hall/Swimming Canada
Summer McIntosh secured a resounding victory with a time of 1:53.69, marking the 3rd-fastest time in the world this year. Her time trails only Titmus and O’Callaghan’s, making her one of the biggest competitors for the Australians and putting Canada on a more even playing field.
Following McIntosh at Trials were Mary-Sophie Harvey (1:55.44), Julie Brousseau (1:57.60) and Emma O’Croinin (1:57.86). Although Brousseau and O’Croinin are the only swimmers of those mentioned so far with times in the 1:57 range, their performances combined with McIntosh’s and Harvey’s add up to a total time of 7:44.59, mere hundredths off of the U.S.’s projected time.
Finals Contenders
Great Britain
Great Britain is sure to put forth a relay team that will be a top contender for the finals in Paris. The country is currently ranked 4th in the list of qualifiers, thanks to the performance by Freya Colbert, Lucy Hope, Abbie Wood and Freya Anderson that resulted in a time of 7:46.63 at the World Championships in Fukuoka, and almost the exact same squad will be taking on the event at the Games.
The British Olympic Trials in April saw Colbert emerge as the individual victor (1:56.22), with Wood taking the runner-up spot (1:56.62). In place of Anderson, Medi Harris will make her Olympic debut on the relay after placing 3rd (1:58.10), while Hope rounded out the top four (1:58.81).
A self-imposed British qualification standard for the 4×200 free relay required the top four swims to land under the standard of 7:51.89 in order to be contested in Paris; the combined times of Colbert, Wood, Harris and Hope easily slid under this standard, adding up to a total time of 7:49.75. This is the same relay squad that won a silver medal in Doha with a time of 7:50.90, meaning that if they can continue to improve upon their recent performances, they should be poised to land themselves solidly in the final.
Brasilien
Another country looking to slide into the final will be Brazil, who put up a 4th-place 4×200 free relay at the World Championships in Doha. The team of Maria Fernanda Costa, Stephanie Balduccini, Gabrielle Roncatto and Aline Rodrigues turned in a time of 7:52.71. That performance landed them in the #6 spot in the ranking of qualified relay teams heading into Paris.
![](https://swimswam.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/800-fr-relay-2-300x200.jpg)
Courtesy of Satiro Sodre/SSPress
In place of Rodrigues, it seems that Maria Paula Heitman will be joining Costa, Balduccini and Roncatto on the relay squad for the Olympic Games. Costa won the individual 200 free with a time of 1:56.37 at the Brazilian Swimming Championships, while Balduccini was the runner-up with a time of 1:58.51. Roncatto and Heitman placed 3rd and 4th with times of 1:58.57 and 1:58.81, respectively.
Their combined times would add up to a time of 7:52.26 overall, which is just slightly faster than the time they qualified with in February. As a result, they should be able to make it into the final but may be right on the border depending on how other teams’ swimmers perform.
Niederlande
The Netherlands is another country that may be able to sneak into the final if their relay squad can deliver top form performances. While the final lineup will not be determined until Paris, the likely team based on recent performances is Marrit Steenbergen, Silke Holkenborg, Imani de Jong and Janna van Kooten.
Taking their top times (Steenbergen – 1:55.51, Holkenborg – 1:59.13, de Jong – 2:00.81 and van Kooten – 1:58.12), the Netherlands squad could see a projected time of 7:53.57. Contrary to most of the other teams we’ve discussed, this time is slightly slower than their entry time of 7:52.97 from the 2023 World Championships. This puts the nation in a much tougher position to secure a spot in the final.
Neuseeland
New Zealand will be fighting for a spot in the final, but as one of the lower-ranked teams in the field, they will have their work cut out for them to make it in. They are currently ranked 8th on the list of qualified teams, but, similar to the Netherlands, the country has a slower projected time than what they qualified with based on swimmers’ recent performances.
At the New Zealand Championships in April, Erika Fairweather was the fastest competitor in the field by far, winning with a time of 1:55.49. The closest behind her was Laticia Transom, who posted a time of 1:58.42, followed by Caitlin Deans in a time of 2:00.72 and Chelsey Edwards in a time of 2:01.00. However, Edwards does not appear on the New Zealand Olympic roster, meaning the final spot could go to Eve Thomas, who swam the opening leg of the relay in Doha in a time of 1:59.07.
Assuming Thomas joins Fairweather, Transom and Deans on the Paris relay team, their performances would add up to a total time of 7:53.70. That time is over half a second slower than New Zealand’s relay performance in Doha (7:53.02), making it questionable whether they can hold onto their spot in the rankings to make the final or not.
Ungarn
If Hungary’s relay squad can improve upon their recent performances just a little bit, then the nation could very well squeeze its way into the final of the 4×200 free relay. Hungary is currently 9th in the rankings of qualified relay teams but could see a faster time performed in Paris.
![](https://swimswam.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/KA1_6912-300x200.jpg)
Courtesy of European Aquatics
The current relay team, based on the Hungarian Olympic roster, looks like it will be Nikolett Pádár, Minna Abraham, Dora Molnar, and Panna Ugrai. At the Hungarian national championships in April, Padar threw down a time of 1:56.83, while Molnar turned in a time of 1:58.95 and Ugrai posted a time of 1:59.84. While Abraham did not compete at the national championships, she recently posted a time of 1:57.22 in the 200 free at the European Aquatics Championships; the meet also saw Ugrai lower her best to a time of 1:58.07.
The add-up of all four swimmers’ recent performances comes to a time of 7:51.96. Hungary’s qualifying performance saw the nation place 7th at the 2023 World Championships against many of the same competitors they will face in Paris, so if they can nail their projected time then they could manage to secure a spot in the final.
Israel
At the 2023 World Championships, Israel’s 4×200 free relay team of Anastasia Gorbenko, Daria Golovaty, Ayla Spitz and Lea Polonsky finished 10th with a time of 7:59.02, putting them in the #12 spot on the ranking of Olympic-qualified relays. The same squad seems to ready to take on the same race in Paris, only this time with a significantly improved projected time.
At the European Aquatics Championships in June, Golovaty and Polonsky both posted personal best times in the individual 200 free, turning in times of 1:58.62 and 1:59.31, respectively. Spitz posted a time of 2:00.41 but had been under the 2:00 mark just a month prior when she swam a personal best time of 1:5879. While Gorbenko did not contest the 200 free individually, she threw down a time of 1:56.74 as the leadoff in the 4×200 free relay. Taking each of their times from Euros, the add-up for their relay in Paris is a time of 7:55.08, but given that they won the 4×200 free relay in a time of 7:51.83, it is likely that they surpass this projected time.
Israel did not put up a relay for this event at the last Olympics, making their chances of landing in the final even more noteworthy.
Japan
A surprise contender for the final is Japan. The Japanese 4×200 free relay qualified with a time of 7:57.22 at the World Championships in Fukuoka, landing them at 10th on the ranking of qualified nations. Japan did not crack the top eight at either the 2023 or 2024 World Championships, but the recent performances by the swimmers likely to make up their relay squad could turn that around in Paris.
At the Japanese Olympic Trials, Waka Kobori secured the victory in the 200 free with a time of 1:58.22, followed by Rio Shirai (1:58.27), Hiroko Makino (1:58.42) and Nagisa Ikemoto (1:58.51). Altogether, their performances would result in a relay time of 7:53.42, nearly four seconds faster than Japan’s current entry time. If they can replicate or even improve these performances again in Paris, then Japan could very well find itself in the Olympic final of the 4×200 free relay.
The Verdict
There is little doubt that the 4×200 free relay will be all Australia’s right from the start. Looking at the projected times, they have an eight second victory margin heading into the Paris Games and are the only team anticipated to be under the 7:40 mark. As a result, we can expect the relay to be a bigger race for silver and bronze than it will be for the gold.
SwimSwam’s Top 8 Picks
Rank | Land | Entry Time | Projected Time |
1 | Australien | 7:37.50 | 7:36.02 |
2 | China | 7:44.40 | 7:44.07 |
3 | Vereinigte Staaten | 7:41.38 | 7:44.51 |
4 | Kanada | 7:49.98 | 7:44.59 |
5 | Great Britain | 7:46.63 | 7:49.75 |
6 | Ungarn | 7:54.65 | 7:51.96 |
7 | Brasilien | 7:52.71 | 7:52.26 |
8 | Israel | 7:59.02 | 7:55.08 |
Dark Horse: France – France heads into the Olympics ranked 12th among the qualified relay teams, with a time of 7:59.27 from the 2024 World Championships. Their performance in Doha saw them place 9th overall, narrowly missing out on the final. Based on the four fastest swims in the 200 free at the French Elite Championships, France could put together a relay team of Lucile Tessariol (1:59.29), Anastasiia Kirpichnikova (1:59.88), Marina Jehl (2:00.04) and Assia Touati (2:00.37) for a projected time of 7:59.58. However, Tessariol, Kirpichnikova and Touati were all slightly off of their best times, meaning that they could easily lower their overall relay time if they can make a return to top form, giving them a fighting chance for the final.
I count at least 3 mistakes in the review about the Israeli team ( get you to wonder on the amount of mistakes across this predication .
All personal bests ( but Gorbenko ) are wrong: golovaty have 1:57 high, Polonsky and Spitz 1:58 high. When they won the European champ – 7:51 all but Spitz were on their best relay times, as for Paris I can see another 1-2 seconds+ the Gorbenko effect .
Think USA can get silver for sure.
USA Swimming was looking even worse in the W 200 FR after the 2021 USA Swimming Olympic Team Trials yet still managed a silver medal in the W 4 x 200 FR-R.
At fukuoka, in prelims Anna Pepolowski anchor the team home in 1.56.8 and Gammel was second on that relay, in the final Gammel lead off in 1.55.9 with a Pb..I m not sure where she anchored…
Only race she anchored was jr pan pacs in 2022 when she anchored in 1;54.8
When Erin Gemmell was mentored by a real coach.
Neither Erin Gemmell or Claire Weinstein can afford to bomb in the individual women’s 200 meter freestyle at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Hoping Australia underperforms and USA and China over-perform and make it exhilarating thrill to watch. And of course, like Simone Manuel’s 50 win at trials, the USA wins with no one, especially Rowdy Gaines, believing they have a chance.
“Weinstein and Madden took 2nd and 3rd at Trials, turning in times of 1:56.18 and 1:56.36 respectively, both of which are faster than Gemmell’s anchoring time in the relay at Worlds.”
Not sure what meet SwimSwam was watching, but Gemmell led off the Worlds relay in 1:55.9.
Fixed, thanks.
Still wrong. Gemmell led off the relay (flat start), I think Shackell was the anchor.
America needs to send Katie + the UVA girls up into the final.
Hail Mary knowing the current squad can’t win
They can’t win anyways unless Australia completely messes up. They should focus on beating China and/or Canada to secure a medal.
That’s a no brainer.
Meanwhile, China has not lived up to expectations in the W 4 x 200 FR-R at the 2022/2023 World Aquatics Championships.
Canada has no chance, they only have two women that can do a 200.
But… Their two are likely faster than the US top2:
* CAN Summer 153, Harvey 155
* US Ledecky 154, Weinstein 156
Top 4 add up from Trials has these 2 teams hundreds apart only. Certainly Ledecky will drop a 153 split, but Summer could go 153 low or better, and Harvey must be setting a CAN Senior National record for most lifetime best times in a single year after 20!
G Walsh and Douglass are unquestionably great and choose not to swim events at which they’re world class, but the idea they’ve been quietly hiding the 1.52 mid 200 freestyles needed to take on the Aussies is bonkers.
I think Douglass maybe has 1:54 in her, which would likely improve the relay by at least one second. But I don’t think she has anything jaw dropping in her. G Walsh I don’t think would go any faster than 1:55/1:56.
I think Gretchen’s absolute ceiling in the 200 free right now is a 1:57/1:56. Her sprint fly is obviously out of this world, but her improvement in it is yet to convert to her sprint free (50/100) – she completely died when she swam her SCY 200 free PB, and that’s both a shorter distance and has more walls.
Douglass’s 200 free is almost impossible to predict, given that predicting her 100 breast by scaling her 100 free and 200 breast would be much faster than her actual 100 breast PB – I suspect her 100/200 flies would be similarly asymmetric. And the 200 free is the event that relies the most on pacing, which in turn requires significant… Read more »
USA Swimming will depend on the following female swimmers in the future of the W 4 x 200 FR-R:
Gemmell, Erin
Mintenko, Madi ?
Shackell, Alex ?
Sims, Bella
Weinstein, Claire
Meanwhile, Katie Ledecky will have to carry more than her fair share of the load which has been the case since the 2014 Pan Pacs.
Even 1:56 would be a huge surprise for Gretchen.
Hence “absolute ceiling”.
I’d be surprised if Gretchen could get under 1:58. Without the walls it’s just too much actual swimming.
Kate Douglass is not swimming the W 200 FR when she is far better in five events:
100 BR – 2024 PB
200 BR – 2024 PB
50 FR – 2024 PB
100 FR – 2024 PB
200 IM – 2024 PB
In addition, a personal best time of 56.43 in the W 100 FL is not too shabby.
Based on what? There’s absolutely nothing to suggest Douglass would be a 1:54. I hate when people just make up times based on nothing and project them onto swimmers.
The future of the W 4 x 200 FR-R is a bounce back performance from Bella Sims at the 2025 Phillips 66 National Championships and further improvements from Erin Gemmell and Claire Weinstein. That’s just to keep the Chinese women at bay.
As for the 2024 Summer Olympics, it looks as though Katie Ledecky will have to pull another rabbit out of the hat in the W 4 x 200 FR-R for yet another silver medal (2019, 2021, 2023).
Canada and Cina would *love* your idea. They’re praying to make it happen.
It is more likely Bella Sims bounces back in calendar year 2025 and Madi Mintenko continues to improve in the 200 FR/400 FR than any previous mentioned cockamamie scenario.
Meanwhile, China has recently underperformed in the W 4 x 200 FR-R as was the case at the 2022/2023 World Aquatics Championships.
More mid distance swimmers … when’s the US gonna develop some elite 100/200 freestylers?
Don’t ask me, ask the clueless CEO of USA Swimming whose only concern is lining his pockets.
Ah, no!
The shocker was the Bella Sims debacle in the W 200 FR at the 2024 USA Swimming Olympic Team Trials.
Yes please. Please let Gretchen lead off the 200 relay. That would be fantastic.
Gretchen vs Mollie as lead off 4×200 free.
I’d pay money to watch that.
Ah, no!
If USA Swimming is to have any chance of a gold medal in the W 4 x 100 FR-R at the Summer Olympics, Torri Huske will most likely need to post a personal best time in the lead-off leg (shades of Mallory Comerford in the final of the W 4 x 100 FR-R at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships). Based on past relay exchanges, the safest place to put Torri Huske in the W 4 x 100 FR-R is the lead-off leg.
I was talking about 4×200.
Gretchen vs Mollie in the lead off 4×200 is a quality entertainment I’m willing to pay money for.
Ah, no!
As far as I see it, Gretchen Walsh will never qualify in the W 200 FR for a major international competition.
Torri is a reliable relay swimmer..her exchanges always were clean..if you are referring that mixed medley where she split 58.1 in butterfly…fink got a very long wall..huske all most got DQ by early jump ..but while managing the jumping she dive in to the deep..she had to do lot of coverings..one bad swim can not erase the grace of her..in relays..both swimmers are responsible in terms of exchanges..
Yes..agree..huske should lead off the relay..
Don’t blame Nic Fink for Torri Huske’s terrible start off the blocks in the mixed 4 x 100 meter medley relay.
Huske’s splits in the butterfly leg of the 4 x 100 meter medley relays (mixed, women) are worse than her flat start times. That’s not a reliable relay swimmer.
It’s the lead-off leg or bust for Torri Huske in the final of the W 4 x 100 FR-R.
You mean the women’s 4 x 50 meter freestyle relay (SCM)?
Well, I don’t know why but I believe the race will be a little tougher than expected for the Aussies even if they will win eventually. So my bet for this podium will be :
1) Australia
2) USA
3) China
The race could be tighter than last year, but unless Australia breaks and DSQ, it’s their race to lose.
The USA were in front at 600m – so if it’s tighter in Paris that’s very tight
Alex Shackell vs Titmus is not that tight.
The USA were in front because Australia had our fastest swimmer last and USA had their slowest last. That doesn’t make it tight
They were ahead after 3 legs of the relay – that is a tight race
They lost by almost 4 seconds. No one considers that margin to be a tight race
“Ahead” by 0.09 and then lost by 4 seconds.
Not a single person in the world believed USA had any chance of winning when the swimmers touched at the 600 mark. It wasn’t tight.
Not ONE single person in the world – watching or not, swim fan or not – believed USA could win? Wow.
Consider me put in my place.
I’m glad you’re consistent with your pedantry.
Sorry but are you suggesting you truly believed that Shackell was going to outsplit Titmus? Is that what you’re saying?
No, what I’m saying is if you’re going to be pedantic about the definition of ‘tight race’ then keep that same pedantry for your own hyperbole.
The bottom fell out during the anchor leg.
W 4 x 200 FR-R
Anchor leg splits
Shackell – 1:56.38
Titmus – 1:52.41
At that time MOC was the fastest Aussie having just broken the WR, and she led off.
Bella Sims and a 1:54.64 relay split is not available to USA Swimming at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Titmus says she is in best ever form.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/swimming/watch-out-world-titmus-mcevoy-say-paris-prep-has-been-gold-standard-20240718-p5julm.html
She said the same thing before 2023 worlds and no one believed her (including me) – I ate my words then, so I’ll trust her this time!! Cannot wait to see what she produces.
Yes, she ‘walks the walk’…..
I remember that.
She said she had the hardest and best training ever, but Swimswam peanut gallery didn’t believe her and even mocked her.
Coleman couldn’t even contain his disappointment on the live watch party for finals in Fukota when Titmus won. He used the excuse that Mcintosh lost because she was young or inexperienced or something like that.
It was very funny on the live streams hearing the SwimSwam writers try to pretend they were happy when Australians kept winning lol
Luckily, I have tickets for to see her swim three times in La Défense Arena !
Mocked her? I’ve NEVER seen or heard anyone mock Ariarne.
You must be new
Several readers including Awsie Dooger said Titmus was washed.
And many readers taunted Titmus for being afraid of re-match against Ledecky when she skipped 2022 World Championship.
Yep – Titmus was mocked ahead of Budapest for admitting Ledecky was a motivator and target, and for daring to suggest she could beat her.
Her win at Budapest was dismissed as only being because Katie was sick.
She was dismissed ahead of Fukuoka as being washed and or scared. It’s really only been since Fukuoka that there’s been a more unilateral acceptance and respect.