#5 Madden, #11 Cox Scratched from 1500-Meter Freestyle Prelims at Day 4 In a surprising turn of events, two elite distance swimmers, Caeleb Dressel (#5) and Chase Kalisz (#11), have been scratched from the men’s 1500-meter freestyle prelims at the Tokyo Olympics. Dressel, the American world record holder in the event, has been battling an undisclosed illness and has not raced since the 4×100-meter medley relay on Saturday. It is unclear at this time if he will be able to compete in the semifinals on Wednesday. Kalisz, also an American, is the reigning Olympic silver medalist in the 400-meter individual medley. He qualified for the 1500-meter freestyle with the sixth-fastest time in heats but has withdrawn due to fatigue. The scratches leave a wide-open field for the 1500-meter freestyle final. Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri is the favorite, but a number of other swimmers, including Ukraine’s Mykhailo Romanchuk and Germany’s Florian Wellbrock, will be in contention for a medal. The prelims for the men’s 1500-meter freestyle will begin at 10:06 PM JST (9:06 AM EST) on Tuesday, August 2. The final will be held on Wednesday, August 4 at 10:44 AM JST (9:44 PM EST).## USA Olympic Trials 2024
## USA Olympic Trials 2024 Day 4 Heat Sheets The heat sheets for day four of the 2024 US Olympic Trials are out, with the highest-ranked scratch being Paige Madden (#5) in the women’s 1500m freestyle. Madden has already secured her ticket to Paris for these Trials, having placed second in the 400m freestyle and third in the 200m freestyle, guaranteeing her a spot on the 4x200m freestyle relay team. Her final event competing in this meet will be the 800m freestyle. Other scratches in the women’s 1500m freestyle include Jillian Cox (#9) and Emma Hastings (#19). Cox finished third in the 400m freestyle and still has the 800m freestyle to swim, an event in which she was part of the 2023 World Cup team. In the men’s 200m butterfly, the only scratch is Aiden Hayes (#11). Hayes has only the 100m butterfly left on his schedule, in which he finished 5th in 51.24. It will likely take a time of 50 seconds or more to make the team. Four men have withdrawn from the 100m butterfly: Shaine Casas (#22), Daniel Diehl (#30), Hunter Tap (#35), and Mitchell Scott (#55). This is not surprising for Casas and Diehl, who have stronger events later in the meet. Three women have scratched from the 100m butterfly: Katharine Berkoff (#14), Kelly Pash (#28), and Justina Kozan (#51). Berkoff’s scratch makes sense as she is on the cusp of her first Olympic berth in the 100m butterfly tonight after becoming the fourth-fastest performer of all time. Wil Scholtz (#46) is the only swimmer to scratch from the men’s 200m breaststroke. A few swimmers who have yet to score any points in these Trials will be competing in double events tomorrow. This list includes Claire Weinstein (#4) in the 1500m freestyle and 100m freestyle, as well as Carson Foster (#2) in the 200m butterfly and 100m freestyle. Both Weinstein and Foster have already qualified for the Olympic team.
1500m Freestyle (Day 4 Prelims Scratches) Two notable names will not compete in the men’s 1500m freestyle final at the ongoing swimming competition. Caeleb Dressel, the American who holds the world record in the event, has withdrawn. Additionally, Australian Mack Horton has also scratched from the race. Dressel’s absence is particularly significant as he was expected to challenge for a medal. However, the 26-year-old has been battling an undisclosed illness and has decided to prioritize his recovery. Horton’s withdrawal is less surprising as he had previously indicated that he would not swim the 1500m freestyle. The 26-year-old has opted to focus on the 200m and 400m freestyle events, where he is a reigning Olympic medalist. With Dressel and Horton out of the race, the field for the 1500m freestyle final is wide open. Mykhailo Romanchuk of Ukraine, who won the bronze medal in the event at the last Olympic Games, is now considered the favorite for gold.
