Even with swimming sensation Michael Phelps in the final lineup, the United States will had their work cut out for them in regaining the 4x100m freetyle relay Olympic crown tonight. US men's head coach Eddie Reese confirmed shortly after Sunday's heats that Phelps would swim the final, alongside Jason Lezak, Ian Crocker and Neil Walker.
The order remained a mystery, but it was clear the United States would need a stellar swim to regain the title they surrendered to Australia in Sydney. But it wasn't Australia that dominated Sunday's heats.
The South African team of Roland Schoeman, Lyndon Ferns, Darian Townsend and Ryk Neethling clocked a blistering 3min 13.84sec to top the qualifying times, less than two-tenths of a second outside the world record of 3:13.67 set by Australia in Sydney, when they handed the Americans their only Olympic defeat in the event.
Ferns said: "We're taking it step by step. If we can do the same tonight, it will be absolutely amazing. We wanted to make the final and we did. Hopefully tonight we can do the same thing."
Despite some controversy over whether Phelps should or should not be considered for the event - because he skipped the 100m free at the US trials - the Americans were second-fastest in 3:15.83.
While the top six 100m free swimmers from the trials are traditionally considered the relay pool, Reese had said as far back as the trials that he would consider Phelps, and wouldn't insist he add a heats swim to his already crowded programme.
Instead, Reese started the third- through sixth-place finishers from the trials, inviting them to bump Phelps.
Walker made it through, registering a split time of 48.16. Veteran sprinter Gary Hall, outspoken in his belief that Phelps should not be given a relay berth, was no doubt disappointed not to make a big impression with an anchor-leg split of 48.73sec.
He said immediately after the race: "I think it will get us in. I want to swim again."
But the United States will have to put any internal feuds aside to regain the gold as, although Australia qualified a lowly sixth, anchor swimmer Todd Pearson predicted a sizeable improvement in the final. Pearson commented: "We got through. Now we've got to smoke them from the outside."
The Aussies will no doubt bring in the big guns for the final, with Ian Thorpe and Michael Klim likely additions. Pearson added: "We've got a couple of cards up our sleeves. Don't write us off yet."
Filed by Brendan Cole
