Olympic Games Snapshot: A Capsule Look At the Day Eight Events in Tokyo; Caeleb Dressel Chases Sprint Title

Editorial content for the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games coverage is sponsored by GMX7.
See full event coverage. Follow GMX7 on Instagram at @GMX7training #gmx7

Olympic Games Snapshot: A Capsule Look At the Day Eight Events in Tokyo; Caeleb Dressel Chases Sprint Title

With the 2020ne Olympic Games less than a month away, Swimming World will run eight consecutive days of capsules that take a quick look at the events that will be held on a specific day in Tokyo. These capsules will provide a snapshot of the various events, including an historical snippet for each discipline.

Day Eight

Men’s 50 Freestyle

World Record: Cesar Cielo (Brazil/2009) 20.91
2016 Olympic Champion: Anthony Ervin (United States) 21.40
Most Titles: United States (Five)
Biggest Victory Margin: .22 Seconds (Matt Biondi Over Tom Jager – 1988)
Top-Five Times (2021) – Olympic Qualifiers
1. Caeleb Dressel (United States) 21.04
2. Vladimir Morozov (Russia) 21.41
3. Ben Proud (Great Britain) 21.42
4. Michael Andrew (United States) 21.48
5. Kristian Gkolomeev (Greece) 21.60
Historical Note: The 50 freestyle was added to the Olympic program at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, with the first final featuring a dual between American rivals Matt Biondi and Tom Jager. It was Biondi who secured the first gold medal, with Jager claiming silver.

Women’s 50 Freestyle

World Record: Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden/2017) 23.67
2016 Olympic Champion: Pernille Blume (Denmark) 24.07
Most Titles: Netherlands (Three)
Biggest Victory Margin: .31 Seconds (Inge de Bruijn Over Malia Metella – 2004)
Top-Five Times (2021) – Olympic Qualifiers
1. Emma McKeon (Australia) 23.93
2. Cate Campbell (Australia) 23.94
3. Ranomi Kromowidjojo (Netherlands) 23.97
4. Pernille Blume (Denmark) 24.06
5. Katarzyna Wasick (Poland) 24.17
Historical Note: At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, the silver medal in the event went to American Dara Torres. A 12-time Olympic medalist, Torres earned made the podium in the sprint as a 41-year-old.

Men’s 1500 Freestyle

World Record: Sun Yang (China/2012) 14:31.02
2016 Olympic Champion: Gregorio Paltrinieri (Italy) 14:34.57
Most Titles: Australia (Eight)
Biggest Victory Margin: 39.0 Seconds (George Hodgson Over Jack Hatfield – 1912)
Top-Five Times (2021) – Olympic Qualifiers
1. Florian Wellbrock (Germany) 14:36.45
2. Mykhailo Romanchuk (Ukraine) 14:39.89
3. Gregorio Paltrinieri (Italy) 14:40.38
4. Bobby Finke (United States) 14:46.06
5. Daniel Jervis (Great Britain) 14:51.49
Historical Note: Over four Olympics, between 1992 and 2004, Australia’s Kieren Perkins and Grant Hackett won every gold medal in the event. Perkins went back-to-back in 1992 and 1996, with Hackett prevailing in 2000 and 2004.

Women’s 400 Medley Relay

World Record: United States (2019) 3:50.40
2016 Olympic Champion: United States (Baker, King, Vollmer, Manuel) 3:53.13
Most Titles: United States (10)
Biggest Victory Margin: 6.60 Seconds (East Germany Over United States – 1976)
Historical Note: When the United States captured the gold medal in 1984, the middle legs were handled by Tracy Caulkins (breaststroke) and Mary T. Meagher (butterfly), two of the greatest swimmers in American history.

Men’s 400 Medley Relay

World Record: United States (2009) 3:27.28
2016 Olympic Champion: United States (Murphy, Miller, Phelps, Adrian) 3:27.95
Most Titles: United States (14)
Biggest Victory Margin: 6.6 Seconds (United States Over Australia)
Historical Note: The United States has won this event each time it has participated in the Olympic Games. The only time the United States did not win gold in the 400 medley relay was in 1980, when the U.S. boycotted the Games, and Australia prevailed in its absence.

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

Name*

Email*

3 Comments

Oldest

Newest Most Voted

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Bob Hopkins

2 years ago

based on world rankings for this year, USA women are ranked in top 3 in 17 individual events and USA men in top 3 in 8 individual events; have the women historically been that much stronger than the men or is this year an exception?

Erwin

2 years ago

Reply to Bob Hopkins

17 events for women? Only 14 Olympic individual events for women and additional 3 relays and 1 mixed medley relay

Bob Hopkins

2 years ago

Reply to Erwin

good catch, I should have said USA women are on on the world top 3 individual event list seventeen times and the men are on the top 3 list only eight times; my question is whether this greater strength by the women is different from years past and if so, why?