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Phelps and Ledecky to swim in 4x100m relays

Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky will both feature in the United States 4x100 metres freestyle relay teams at the Rio Olympics, said a USA Today report, despite them having not qualified for the individual event during the national trials.

Ledecky finished seventh in the individual 100m freestyle at last month's US trials in Omaha, Nebraska, while Phelps, who had shown impressive speed at the team's pre-Games training camp in Atlanta, did not enter.

The five-time Olympian, who is the most decorated athlete of all time, is seeking to add to his collection of 22 Olympic medals, which includes 18 golds.

He is expected to compete in three individual events - the 100m and 200m butterfly and 200m individual medley.

The relay line-ups, a closely guarded secret, do not have to be submitted until the night before the race, but it would be no surprise for the pair to be included in the 4x100m.

Both US relay teams are likely to finish in the top three, which would give Phelps and the 19-year-old Ledecky their first medals of the Rio Games.

USA Today, in a report citing an unnamed source with direct knowledge of the US swimming team's plans, said Phelps would swim in Sunday's men's relay final.

It said Ledecky, who is tipped for gold in the 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle, is expected to take part in the preliminary heats on Saturday.

Swimmers who take part in the heats, but not the final also get medals, if their country finishes at the podium.

It is common for final line-ups to be different from preliminary line-ups because it saves the top swimmers for the medal showdown and allows more to share in the glory. - Reuters.

Rio OlympicsSwimmingunited states