Get ready for an exciting dive into the world of female swimming! We're about to uncover the fastest four-stroke swimmers in the 400 IM, and trust me, it's a thrilling race!
Our top spot has a new champion, and it's a close call! Marrit Steenbergen, the European Swimmer of the Year, has taken the lead with an impressive time of 3:37.67, just a whisker ahead of Kaylee McKeown. But here's the twist: Steenbergen's journey to the top wasn't an overnight success. Two years ago, she ranked a humble 15th, but her dedication paid off, shaving over six seconds off her previous time. The key to her success? A remarkable improvement in breaststroke, where she dropped an incredible 4.15 seconds!
Kaylee McKeown, our previous leader, hasn't been idle either. She managed to trim 0.17 seconds off her 100-meter backstroke time, keeping her ahead of Anastasia Gorbenko. However, Gorbenko's performance is worth noting; despite dropping time in three events, she still managed to dip below 3:58.00, a remarkable achievement!
Kate Douglass, another swimmer to watch, has also improved her times, especially in the 100-meter breaststroke, where she dropped a significant 1.8 seconds. Her other events counterbalance this, ranking her highly in the top-20.
Roos Vanotterdijk has been on an incredible tear this year, rocketing into the top-20. She's a force to be reckoned with in freestyle, fly, and backstroke, but like many, she struggles with breaststroke.
The Canadian scene has seen a change, with Mary-Sophie Harvey taking over from Summer McIntosh as the top Canadian swimmer. Both have improved their times, but Harvey's drop of over four seconds has secured her a spot below 4:00.
Alex Walsh is another swimmer making waves, dropping a substantial amount of time, from 4:03.01 to 3:58.87. Her improvements across the board, especially in the 100-meter fly, have been impressive.
The top-20 is a faster group than ever, with ten swimmers breaking the 4:00 barrier, an increase from just four previously. Breaststroke continues to be the most polarizing stroke, with only one swimmer in the top ten failing to crack the 1:10 mark.
So, who do you think will be the next swimmer to break into the top 20? Let's discuss in the comments!
Here's a look at the top 20 swimmers and their times:
- Marrit Steenbergen (NED) - 58.55, 58.96, 1:07.90, 52.26 (3:57.67)
- Kaylee McKeown (AUS) - 59.45, 57.16, 1:06.86, 54.29 (3:57.76)
- Anastasia Gorbenko (ISR) - 58.23, 59.25, 1:06.15, 54.29 (3:57.92)
- Roos Vanotterdijk (BEL) - 55.84, 58.97, 1:09.58, 53.62 (3:58.01)
- Kate Douglass (USA) - 56.43, 64.04, 1:05.27, 52.56 (3:58.30)
- Alex Walsh (USA) - 57.59, 60.23, 1:06.50, 54.55 (3:58.87)
- Katinka Hosszu (HUN) - 57.80, 58.45, 1:09.06, 53.64 (3:58.95)
- Torri Huske (USA) - 55.52, 60.19, 1:11.28, 52.29 (3:59.28)
- Mary-Sophie Harvey (CAN) - 57.31, 60.16, 1:08.37, 53.71 (3:59.55)
- Siobhan Marie O'Connor (GBR) - 57.45, 62.35, 1:06.34, 53.81 (3:59.95)
And here are some swimmers who just missed out on the top 20:
- Rika Omoto (21st) - 4:04.23
- Phoebe Bacon (4:05.31)
- Maggie MacNeil (4:05.85)
- Kayla Sanchez (4:06.16)
- Teagan O'Dell (4:06.59)
- Gretchen Walsh and Beryl Gastaldello (both with times of around 4:06.80)
What do you think of these rankings? Are there any swimmers you think deserve a spot in the top 20? Let's discuss and celebrate the incredible talent in the world of swimming!
