Leon Marchand in for Prelims for France (Medley Relay Names)

Paris Olympics, Day 8: Leon Marchand in for Prelims for France (Medley Relay Names)

Four-time Olympic gold medalist Leon Marchand is chasing a fifth piece of hardware for France, swimming breaststroke in prelims of the men’s medley relay Saturday morning.

Marchand will be joined by Yohann Ndoye-Brouard, Clement Secchi and Rafael Fente-Damers in prelims. Should the French make finals – as is likely, entering seeded fourth – Florent Manaudou and Maxime Grousset would sub in on the back two legs. The finals are Sunday night.

The U.S. is going with a full B team, trusting two swimmers that didn’t make much headway in their events. Hunter Armstrong leads off, followed by Charlie Swanson, Thomas Heilman and Jack Alexy.

The men’s relay will feature a matchup of podium finishers in breaststroke in the second heat. Adam Peaty is in for Great Britain, returning after his COVID-19 absence. He’ll pair with Oliver Morgan, Joe Litchfield and Matt Richards. He’ll be swimming against Nicolo Martinenghi of Italy. The Italians field near a first-choice roster, with Thomas Ceccon out front, Giacomo Carini manning the weak leg of fly and Alessandro Miressi on the end.

In the first heat, the Dutch and Chinese go full bore. Netherlands has Kai Van Westering handing off to Casper Corbeau, Nyls Korstanje and Stan Pijnenburg. China is going with the A team, with Xu Jiayu, Qin Haiyang, Wang Changhao and new 100 free record holder Pan Zhanle.

On the women’s side, it’s B teams for the U.S. and most of the main competitors. Kate Douglass, who will swim the final of the 200 IM, is a bit of a surprise on the anchor leg, though it’s a responsibility she knows well. Both Torri Huske and Gretchen Walsh, who has the 50 free prelims earlier in the session, are held for finals. Joining Douglass in prelims is Katharine Berkoff, Emma Weber and Alex Shackell, the latter coming down from the 200 fly.

Finals will see Regan Smith, Huske, Walsh and Lilly King drafted in.

The Aussies are going with a backup side, as well. Iona Anderson is out front, followed by Ella Ramsay, Alexandria Perkins and Meg Harris. Emma McKeon will likely find her way onto the relay in fly, with Mollie O’Callaghan on free. Kaylee McKeown will swim in the front half, presumably in backstroke but perhaps in breast if that endures as a weakness.

Most of the medal contenders behind that top two are going strong early. China has Wang Xueer, Tang Qianting, Yu Yiting and Wu Qingfeng. They would welcome in Zhang Yufei for fly and Yang Junxuan for free in the final.

The Dutch roll with Maaike de Waard, Tes Schouten, Tessa Giele and Marrit Steenbergen, perhaps one change possible for finals. France is in the same boat, with Beryl Gastadello likely to find a lane if they make finals. Emma Terebo, Charlotte Bonnet, Marie Wattel and Mary-Ambre Moluh handle the morning.

Eyes on Sweden as they field Hanna Rosvall, Sophie Hansson, Louise Hansson and Sarah Sjostrom, the latter after doing the 50 free. Canada will draw on Ingrid Wilm, Sophie Angus, Mary-Sophie Harvey and Penny Oleksiak. They have three sub legs waiting in Kylie Masse, Maggie Mac Neil and Sydney Pickrem.