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Rebecca Adlington, an Olympic double winner from the UK, once said that the mixed 4x100m medley relay is "100% one of the most exciting swimming events". Recently, the event was included in the map of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Adlington has now joined the BBC's swim commentary team: "Because it's very interesting to look at the changes in the leading positions and the tactical approaches of the various countries. "This fun seems to be a key value of this new project."
In 2015, the men's and women's medley relay event appeared for the first time in the international long pool event , the fina Kazan World Championships. Athletes, live audiences, and TV viewers seemed to welcome the project.
Adlington's commentator partner, Mark Foster, who has been at the Olympics five times, explains: "As a TV viewer, you sit there and think, 'We're not involved,' and then you think, 'Actually, it's not, we have to guess who's going to be the next stick, it could be a duel between a male athlete and a female athlete.'" ’”
In a race, there will be potential dramatic shifts, and the leading players will keep changing, which will have a lot of appeal. Teams are free to choose their lineups, making their outcome unpredictable. For example, you can send a man to the field first, and then send a woman to the field after taking a big lead.
Adlington won the 400m and 800m freestyle titles at the Beijing Olympics and two bronze medals at the London 2012 Olympics. She is one of the few athletes to have competed in mixed-race relays in her early years. "At the European Youth Olympic Festival (2003), we competed in the mixed 4x200m relay and I loved it. It's great to be part of a team and play with the boys. ”
Adlington and Foster are both 6 gold medalists at the Short Course World Championships, and although both "enjoyed the relay races", they unfortunately did not have the opportunity to compete in mixed co-ed competitions in the top events. Asked who they would most like to play with in this kind of competition, Adlington did not hesitate to choose his partner.
“mark foster。 He's a pure short-distance master and we're good colleagues now. It would be nice to be able to compete with him. She laughed and added: "With the addition of 50m backstroke world champion Liam Tancock and relay superstar Fran Halsall, it's the best British team in her heart."
Asked which athletes would be nominated to form the best team without regard to nationality and time. Adlington and Foster also agreed on one thing in an instant: "Phelps is of course the best candidate for the butterfly. ”
Adlington went on to nominate one of Australia's Campbell sisters (sister Cate Campbell is the current world record holder in the 100m freestyle, sister Bronte Campbell is the World Champion in the 50m and 100m freestyles), and the United States Olympic backstroke three-time winner Aaron Peirsol. Instead, Foster chose Kriztina Egerszegi, who won gold in the 200m backstroke at three consecutive Olympic Games, and Ruta Meilutyte, the London Olympics 100m breaststroke champion.
Adlington complained that he was "not good at sprinting", and the foster said he did not want to swim "the last 100 meters".
Finally, Foster added, "This project will benefit certain small countries and make them more competitive." Powerful countries, such as the United States, are always strong. But other countries only need 2 good female athletes and 2 good male athletes. ”
What do you think the best team is like?