2 0 2 1 TO K YO O LY M P I C S
DAY 2 FINALS Monday, July 26
(10:30 a.m. - 12:40 p.m. Japan Standard Time) WOMEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY | MEN’S 100 BREASTSTROKE | WOMEN’S 400 FREESTYLE | MEN’S 4x100 FREESTYLE RELAY
World Record and 2016 Olympic Champion: 55.48WR Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden—Rio de Janeiro 8-7-16
No 100 fly final has ever seen multiple women break the 56-second barrier, but expect a scorching fast race in Tokyo. Three swimmers have already been under 56 this year: USA’s Torri Huske, China’s Zhang Yufei and Australia’s Emma McKeon—all who have a realistic shot to reach the podium. Huske was extremely impressive at the U.S. Olympic Trials, swimming a 55.66 to finish less than 2-tenths off the world record. Zhang has burst onto the scene with 55-second swims in late 2020 and in the spring of 2021, and McKeon has been a consistent podium presence in the 100 fly at the last two World Championships. But the pick here is Maggie MacNeil, ranked fourth in the world at 56.14, but less than two years removed from stunning the world by upsetting Sarah Sjostrom to win the 2019 world title. MacNeil did not have to swim at her best to qualify for Canada’s Olympic team, so expect a huge Tokyo performance, particularly after she smashed the fastest time ever in the 100 yard fly in capturing the NCAA championship earlier this year. Sjostrom, meanwhile, is the defending champion and world record holder, but after fracturing her elbow earlier this year, she might not even swim the 100 fly in Tokyo. Even if she does compete, her season-best time is a 57.65, so she faces an uphill battle to get on the podium. —David Rieder
>> ADAM PEATY, GREAT BRITAIN
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BIWEEKLY
SWIMMINGWORLD.COM
Gold: Maggie MacNeil, Canada Silver: Torri Huske, USA Bronze: Zhang Yufei, China
MEN’S 100 BREASTSTROKE World Record: 56.88sf Adam Peaty, Great Britain—Gwangju 7-21-19 2016 Olympic Champion: 57.13WR Adam Peaty, Great Britain
Only one man in the last two years has swum under 58 seconds in the 100 breaststroke. That man also happens to be under 57 seconds. If Adam Peaty does what Adam Peaty usually does, everyone else is swimming for silver. The British swimmer isn’t just aiming for a gold medal. He’s swimming to solidify his place as possibly the greatest men’s breaststroker in history. Double Olympic gold would just about do it, given his pedigree. Beyond Peaty, there are plenty of challengers in the 58-range. Michael Andrew was outstanding at the U.S. Olympic Trials, but will have a busier schedule in Tokyo than most breaststrokers. Arno Kamminga was 58.10 in May, but was just outdueled by Nicolo Martinenghi at Sette Colli. Both are medal contenders, but it’s going to take something special to unseat Peaty from his breaststroke throne. —Matthew De George Gold: Adam Peaty, Great Britain Silver: Michael Andrew, USA Bronze: Nicolo Martinenghi, Italy
[PHOTO BY MINE KASAPOGLU / ISL ]
WOMEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY
