Day 4 Relay Lineups: Lochte Makes Rio Debut In 800 Free Relay Prelims

2016 RIO OLYMPIC GAMES

• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Swimming: August 6-13
• Olympic Aquatics Stadium, Barra Olympic Park, Rio de Janeiro
• Prelims – 9:00 a.m/12:00 p.m PST/EST (1:00 p.m local), Finals – 6:00 p.m/9:00 p.m PST/EST (10:00 p.m local)
• SwimSwam previews 
• Rio Schedule & Results
• Live Stream (NBC)

After a break from the relays on day 3, we are back to it on day 4 with the men’s 4×200 free. There were no real surprises with the relay lineups this morning.

Heat 1

1. Brazil (L.Altamir, J.De Lucca, A.Pereira, N.Oliveira)
2. Spain (V.Martin, M.Duran Navia, A. Puig Garrich, M.Sanchez Torrens)
3. Poland (J.Switkowski, P.Korzeniowski, K.Klich, K.Majchrzak)
4. United States (C.Smith, J.Conger, G.Bentz, R.Lochte)
5. Netherlands (D.Dreesens, K.Stolk, B.Schwietert, M.Brzoskowski)
6. France (J.Pothain, G.Mallet, L.Bourelly, D.Joly)
7. South Africa (D.Brown, S.Rousseau, C.Justus, D.Bosch)
8. Italy (A.D’Arrigo, A.di Giorgio, M.Belotti, G.Detti)

Heat 2

1. Denmark (A.Nielsen, D.Skaaning, S.Dahl, M.Westermann)
2. Russia (M.Dovgalyuk, V.Andrusenko, N.Lobintsev, A.Krasnykh)
3. Belgium (L.Croenen, D.Dekoninck, E.Vanluchene, G.Surgeloose)
4. Great Britain (S.Milne, R.Renwick, D.Wallace, S.Duncan)
5. Australia (D.Smith, M.Horton, J.Hansford, T.Fraser-Holmes)
6. Germany (F.Vogel, J.Heidtmann, C.Rapp, P.Biedermann)
7. Japan (K.Hagino, N.Ehara, Y.Kobori, T.Matsuda)
8. Hungary (P.Bernek, G.Kis, B.Gratz, D.Kozma)

As was expected, finishers 3-6 at US Trials will swim this morning, with the fastest split (and maybe the two fastest splits) likely to swim tonight with Conor Dwyer, Townley Haas and maybe Michael Phelps. Clark Smith will lead-off, with Jack Conger second, Gunnar Bentz third, and Ryan Lochte will debut here in Rio on the anchor leg.

Joining the U.S. in heat 1 will be the Netherlands, France and South Africa, who are all expected to make changes tonight (should they advance). The Netherlands have sat out Sebastiaan Verschuren, who will swim the 100 freestyle this morning. The same case is with France and Jeremy Stravius. France has also left off Yannick Agnel, the defending 200 free gold medallist who failed to even make the semi-finals here in Rio. The South Africans have their work cut out for them to advance, but would add last night’s silver medal winner Chad Le Clos to the lineup if they did.

Heat 2 will feature 2015 World Champions Great Britain in lane 4, who have decided to leave top gun James Guy out and rest him for the final. Australia and Belgium have left off 100 freestylers Cameron McEvoy and Pieter Timmers who are occupied this morning with that race. Russia has left off Danila Izotov, who will join them in the final if they’re there after a strong showing in the 400 free relay, and of note for Japan is Kosuke Hagino on the lead-off leg.