Aussies bite back at claims women’s relay tactics ‘smacked of arrogance’

Australia’s swimming coaches have hit back after the team was accused of a “major stuff-up” in the women’s 4x 200m freestyle relay.

Australia’s relay tactics caused controversy.

China shocked everyone by setting a new world record, Katie Ledecky led America to silver and Australia finished third in the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay as questions were immediately raised about team selection and swimming order for the girls in green and gold.

The Chinese performed out of their skin and celebrated an emotional win that left some members of the team in tears on the pool deck.

Australia used four new swimmers for the final, completely revamping the team that performed in the heats. None of Ariarne Titmus, Emma McKeon, Madi Wilson or Leah Neale competed in qualifying, instead kept on ice for the main event.

Titmus has won gold medals in the 400m and 200m already in Tokyo, but was beaten to the wall by Xang Junxuan in the lead-off leg as she delivered a split of 1.54:51. Emma McKeon (1.55:31) was next, followed by Wilson (1.55:62) and Neale (1.55:85).

Titmus told Channel 7 after the race: “We were under our previous world record, so it was still a good swim from us.

“I would have liked to have done a bit more for the team. I feel like I should have been better.

“It’s been a big couple of days, so I’m happy with a podium.”

McKeon elaborated: “We’re under our world record time from 2019 … You can’t really ask for more than that.

“To get on the Olympic podium is very special.”

Emma McKeon and Ariarne Titmus watch gold slip away. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

There was plenty of criticism about the decision to put our two fastest swimmers first.

Journalist Julian Abbott tweeted: “Surely it should have been Titmus last. The US would have always run Ledecky last.”

Reporter Jonathon Gul wrote: “Awful decision. Awful. Think back to what Thorpe did in the 4x100m relay in Sydney. There’s a reason why the champions swim last.”

The race was Neale’s only swim for the Olympics. She was left out of the heats but had to be chosen for this event. If you’re selected specifically for a relay, as Neale was, Olympic rules dictate you must swim otherwise your team is disqualified.

Seventeen-year-old Mollie O’Callaghan missed out on selection despite arguably being Australia’s form 200m swimmer alongside Titmus. The teenager’s split in the heats was faster than each of McKeon, Wilson and Neale in the final, sparking an angry backlash. People questioned whether the Aussies were trying to get eight swimmers a medal, knowing everyone who competes in the heats also receives some bling if their replacements finish the final on the podium.

China celebrates as the Aussies winning Gold while Australia claims Bronze. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Swimming writer Emma Greenwood said the team overhaul – which left Neale without a chance to find her rhythm in qualifying - showed Australia was far too cocky.

“Major Aussie relay stuff-up that smacks of arrogance. Officials decided that one was in the bank before the final,” Greenwood tweeted. “Aim is not to have 8 swimmers win medals. It’s to put the best 4 form athletes in the race. Poor Leah Neale shouldn’t have been left in that position.”

Sports writer Todd Balym, who covered swimming at the 2016 Rio Games, tweeted: “Mollie O’Callaghan swam faster lead off in the heats than all 3 of Australia’s team who had a fly start. Relay selection by Australia - trying to get 8 swimmers a medal - backfired spectacularly. Coach needs to come out & explain why they went against every previous relay policy.

“Typically you know who your 2 fastest are, you rest them from heats, your next 4 race off for 2 relay spots. Aust pre-selected 4 to rest, so no current form was considered. Poor Neale had no race until that final.”

Journalist Jacquelin Magnay added: “Australia swim officials too smug thinking they had the 4x200m freestyle in the bag. Left the in-form heat swimmer in the stands.

“Australia gave Titmus the lead off leg thinking she could go for the world record; and Mollie O’Callaghan, fast in heats, was left out. Trying to give everyone a medal??”

But Australia’s swimming coaches bit back at the criticism.

Asked if Australia was guilty of complacency, Titmus’ coach Dean Boxall said: “I knew it was going to be quick. I didn’t underestimate the opposition at all.”

Head swimming coach Rohan Taylor said O’Callaghan was tired from qualifying on Wednesday. “You’ve got to think of the morning after getting home at 11pm. She was asked to put everything in there just to get the team through,” said Taylor.

“There’s no guarantee of her going quicker when we have fresh... athletes to go in. We took that strategy.”

The girls were fast but couldn’t match China and America.

Channel 7 commentator Ian Thorpe said he was “a little curious about this order they’ve put the swimmers in”, as speculation mounted the decision to put Titmus out first was motivated by a desire to see her break the world record.

Titmus and Ledecky have had some terrific battles over the years, and their 400m duel was a highlight of the Tokyo Games. But they were kept apart this time as Ledecky brought America home in the final leg with the fastest split of the race and second-fastest 200m relay split of her career.

The US was third when Ledecky jumped in trailing the Aussies by 1.5 seconds, but she hauled in Neale to seal silver.

Amid the hailstorm of criticism, Thorpe pointed out teams can’t realistically adjust their tactics to match up with what other countries are doing.

“For people to know at home … you don’t know when you’re on the swim team, when they do the selection for the relays, we don’t know what the other teams are doing,” Thorpe said.

“We have to put in our relay team and then you find out how the other team is going to be swimming their race. It needs to go in an hour before the final swim.”

It’s important to note the Aussies broke their previous world record for the event, finishing in 7.41:29. So any criticism needs to take that into account, because it’s not like the team flopped spectacularly, and winning a bronze medal is nothing to sneeze at.

But China (7.40:33) pulled out the relay of its life to set a new global benchmark, while Ledecky inspired Team USA to a new national record.

There is no possible way you could forecast that swim by China. Here are splits compared to their PB's coming into the race. Factoring in flying starts they've collectively gone 4 seconds faster than you'd reasonably expect. Absolutely insane. pic.twitter.com/lGAH7Sxoth

— Tom O'Neil (@thomasjameoneil) July 29, 2021

Australia was happy to finish on the podium. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Australia started the $1.06 favourite in the relay. There have only been two shorter-priced favourites (Adam Peaty, $1.03 and Kristof Milak, $1.04) with the TAB in the pool this week and both won.

China started $41, which was the second biggest upset of the week in the pool behind Tunisia’s Ahmed Hafnaoui who won the men’s 400m Freestyle at $51.