Men's 400 Free Relay

As much as I hate to diss a fellow UCSB alum, Lezak's the wild card and the one most likely to lose his legs...yes he's VERY fast...but you don't always know what your going to get...unlike the other guys he trains mostly alone and I think his conditioning for multiple races is suspect. I will say this, he does tend to swim best on relays. Also...remember his "cruising" prelims last go around and not making it into finals? Classic Lezak. I was worried about Lezak at Trials. I wasn't sure he would have it in him. Would he swim like Neil Walker? Just past his best? Lezak was superb in the 100. The 4 x 100 comes early in Beijing. The prelims are Sunday and finals Monday. No American except Phelps will have an individual race before prelims of the relay. So Lezak and the rest of the possible swimmers should be fresh. Lezak swam well when they set the WR - as did Cullen and Phelps. My biggest worry about Lezak is that he 100% peaked for trials.

If they an get Phelps to go first and give them a lead, even a small one, I think they take it. It is sooooooo much easier to swim from the lead than to play catchup. Guys playing catchup over-swim the first lap (or 2 laps if it's th 4x200) and have nothing left.

Not questioning the last reply but would like to see the swimmer's times for US and France. thanks

The sum of the 4 best flat start times has the USA about 2 secs ahead of the French. I do not see how Bousquet is any better a relay swimmer than any of the Americans. Phelps will likely lead - which minimizes the impact of his supposedly mediocre relay starts. Lezak, Weber-Gale, and someone else, will absolutely turn the water into froth.

For the record, both Bernard and Bousquet have recorded sub :47 second relay splits. Never said he was/wasn't better than any of the Americans, just that he has had some awesome relay swims.

I work with several French people, so there's a nice little rivalry brewing. I think the French may pull off the upset, but I'm hoping for a record breaking performance from our boys! I would love to see Phelps go 47.6 something and start the US off with a nice lead to hold.

I caution anyone against betting on the French in a situation where courage and resolve is required, unless it's fine cuisine.

Oui, bon appetit! Comment ca va?

Well, One thing I am almost positive of is that it WON'T be Australia, and I doubt they can even medal. Eamon Sullivan maybe the second fastest swimmer in the world this year but he cannot carry the rest of the team. Sadly, for this Aussie (moi) it won't be Australia. I do believe it will be USA. Although the french have some great swimmers, I do not think they have the solidarity of the Americans nor the depth. I think it will go Gold - USA, silver - France; Bronze - South Africa or Netherlands

I think it is an advantage to swim the anchor from slightly behind if your anchor is an experienced swimmer who responds we'll to pressure situations(see the 1976 womens 400 FR.)The US must have the lead before the anchor as I don't think we don't have anyone who can keep with Bernard.That said I am still going with the US as I think Phelps will swim an amazing lead off and I suspect our starts will be better.