Men's 400 Medley Relay

The United States is defending Olympic Champion and current World Record holder. Every time the US has competed in this event in the Olympics, they have won it. Heavy burden on the shoulders of the 4 men who should be swimming this event. Aaron Peirsol will be leading it off in the backstroke and Bendan Hansen should be in for the breaststroke leg. The Baltimore Bullet (Michael Phelps) will be swimming butterfly leg and leading into the man with the best 100 Free relay split in history, 46.06! As Hansen said, "That relay is going to be sick."

The American men have are favorites for gold. In fact, if we could swim our B team from prelims, that would probably be a favorite for a medal behind our A team.

The Aussies are no slouches, so don't count them out and don't count Number 8 too quickly here. Eamon Sullivan is going to anchor this relay and if it is close he has some serious speed to take whatever position is ahead of him. I expect their lineup will include bronze medalist Hayden Stoekel on the backstroke, Brenton Rickard in the Breaststroke, and Andrew Lauterstein swimming fly leading into Sullivan's closing free.

Japan had the fastest time in this event in the world last year, but they are good at medley and weak in the free. They have a chance to medal, but I don't expect them to compete with the US. Russia has a shot at the podium led out by Vyatchenin in the back. South Africa can sprint, and since this is only a 400 relay, even though they are primarily freestylers, it's a sprint relay.

Medal Predictions:

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