Olympic predictions

[Steve]

with the games only a week or so away lots of predictions are coming out of the woodwork (you can expect mine shortly ;)). I just saw Philip Witten's (the editor of Swimming world) predictions which gave the British squad a hefty plug as follows:
Gold: 2 (Mel Marshall 200 free, women's 4x200)
Silver 1(Gregor Tait 200 Back)
Bronze 4 (Katy Sexton 100 back, David Davies 1500 free, James Gibson 100 breast and Men's Medley Relay)

Most of those seem possible (if not probable) but the two relay predictions stunned me in all honesty. I think the women's 4x200 will definitely be in the hunt, but can't see the gold being between anyone other than Australia China and maybe the US.

As for the men's medley relay - based on trials performances, the first three are now world class - Tait, Mew/Gibson and Cooper, but that still leaves an awful lot for Kidd on the anchor to do, and with all due respect he'll be up a against a host of swimmers who will be splitting low 48's so I don't see a medal myself. I would of course be ecstatic to be proven wrong!

[DAK]

A Link to the article:

http://www.swiminfo.com/lane9/news/7700.asp

Some bold predicitons for the British Team remains to be seen whether they will come to fruition would be good if they did. Was surprised to see the Mens Medley team in there too...will post mine when I get some more time.

[Tara]

They left out Katy in the 200 back though?!

[Bazza]

Yes personally I can't see any relay medals for GBR. Marshall, Tait, Sexton, Davies and Gibson all have a shot, although gold is a long one. In my opinion our best chance of Olympic Gold is Sexton in the 200 back which as Tara says is excluded from the above. Also they are banking on Tait beating one of the Americans if he is to win silver!

I have made my predictions but am not bold enough to publish them before anyone else! :p

[selkie]

With Michael Phelps not swimming the 200 back (scheduling problems), Tait is definitely in the hunt for silver behind Aaron Peirsol. Phelps' replacement, Bryce Hunt went a 1:58.7 at Trials- a very solid swim, but not one to inspire fear in competitors.

I do think that GBR for gold in the women's 4x200 is a real stretch- Mel Marshall is a great swimmer, but other teams are just too deep. Australia has three girls under 1:59 this year already, and the American 1-2 of Lindsay Benko and Natalie Coughlin are both capable of 1:57 high along with a couple girls who go 1:59 low.

[Bazza]

We will be lucky to win a medal in the womens 4x200, let alone gold.

I didn't know Phelps has withdrawn from the 200m back. Hadn't heard that so assumed he was swimming all six individuals. In that case Tait has a better shot at a medal but silver would still be a great achievement. Did Lenny Krayzelburg swim the 200 at trials? I guess if he did he didn't go too well.

[Steve]

We will be lucky to win a medal in the womens 4x200, let alone gold.

I didn't know Phelps has withdrawn from the 200m back. Hadn't heard that so assumed he was swimming all six individuals. In that case Tait has a better shot at a medal but silver would still be a great achievement. Did Lenny Krayzelburg swim the 200 at trials? I guess if he did he didn't go too well.
Lenny concentrated on the 100, didn't swim the 200. Phelps pulled out of the 200 back right after the trials as it clashes with too many other things - 200IM final I think is in the same session

[selkie]

Lenny's still got shoulder issues despite the surgeries that were supposed to help correct that. He had focused on the 100 back, but was still entered in the 200 back at the start of the Trials meet in case he didn't make it in the very, very tough 100. When he took 2nd in the 100, he scratched the 200 to no one's surprise.

Here's hoping his shoulders hold together for four more swims and he can go into retirement on his own terms.