The Mixed Team Relay in Hamburg will acquire a special importance this year.
Alongside being the World Championship for the discipline, it represents the final chance to automatically qualify a team for the Paris Olympic Games.
Under the qualification procedure for next year’s Olympics, the hosts receive two male and two female slots, entitling them to start in the relay. As hosts, France thus already have their places secured. With that in mind, they have opted against sending a relay to Hamburg.
Even if they had not earned the slots, France would still be the first country to have qualified after they won the Mixed Team Relay at WTCS Montreal last year (which also doubled as the World Championships).
Due to France’s status as hosts, the Montreal slots rolled down to the runners-up. A year ago, that was Great Britain. As such, Britain cannot qualify again in Hamburg. While they can obviously win the race, in Olympic terms they are irrelevant.
That leaves one relay slot, comprising of two men and two women, to be earned in Hamburg.
Thereafter, the next step in the qualification order will be via the Mixed Team Relay Olympic rankings. Several subsequent steps, including individual qualification, then follow.
Given the significance of the relay in Hamburg, a number of countries will look to put their best foot forwards.
Germany managed to qualify all seven of their women’s team for the final at WTCS Hamburg. Moreover they put five men into the final. They will therefore be spoilt for choice when it comes to constructing their team.
WTCS medallists like Lasse Lührs, Tim Hellwig and Lisa Terstch could be sensible choices. However it is hard to ignore the cases of youngsters like Annika Koch and Simon Henseleit on the back of impressive weekends.
With a home audience to cheer them on, Germany might just be the best bet.
The United States were the bronze medallists in Montreal last year and are always good value in the relay. At the Tokyo Olympic Games, they won the bronze medal in the event.
In a similar manner to Germany, the USA put five women into the final at WTCS Hamburg and have a healthy array of options. The men were not quite as strong although Matthew McElroy and Seth Rider made the final.
Someone like Morgan Pearson could also play a major role. While he did not make the final, he has proven himself to be a reliable leg for Team USA before. Having rested on Saturday instead of racing the final, he could be fresh and a good option.
Hayden Wilde will look to carry the New Zealand team as he did en route to a 4th place in Montreal last year. He will have Tayler Reid on hand to help. Furthermore, after impressing on their way to bronze at the World U23/Junior Mixed Team Relay Championships, New Zealand have plenty of options to support Wilde.
Several teams also pack powerful punches.
Brazil can call upon Manoel Messias and Miguel Hidalgo, both of whom were individual finalists. On the women’s side, they have Vittoria Lopes, arguably the best swimmer in the women’s field, as well as Djenyfer Arnold and Luisa Baptista.
Likewise, Australia can summon the winner of WTCS Montreal, Matthew Hauser. Their great strength, though, may actually lie in the depth of their women’s team. Natalie Van Coevorden and Emma Jackson made the final at WTCS Hamburg while the Hedgeland sisters, Jaz and Kira, are good options too.
Canada, Hungary and Belgium have impressive men’s teams. They can call upon the likes of Tyler Mislawchuk, Csongor Lehmman and Jelle Geens, respectively. Charles Paquet, Bence Bicsak and Marten Van Riel should also figure and have major parts to play.
Although Canada had no female finalists in Hamburg, Hungary have Zsanett Bragmayer while Belgium can deploy Jolien Vermeylen.
With Olympic slots on the line, then, every country will likely ramp up its efforts. Notwithstanding the incredible talents representing their rivals, home advantage could prove enough to propel Germany over the line.
