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 Five Events in Tokyo; Caeleb Dressel vs. Kyle Chalmers
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 Five
Men’s 800 Freestyle
World Record: Zhang Lin (China/2009) 7:32.12
2016 Olympic Champion: Event Not Contested
Most Titles: First-Time Event
Biggest Victory Margin: First-Time Event
Top-Five Times (2021) – Olympic Qualifiers
1. Gregorio Paltrinieri (Italy) 7:41.96
2. Jack McLoughlin (Australia) 7:42.51
3. Mykhailo Romanchuk (Ukraine) 7:42.61
4. Ahmed Hafnaoui (Tunisia) 7:45.54
5. Gabriele Detti (Italy) 7:46.10
Historical Note: The world record of 7:32.12, recorded by China’s Zhang Lin at the 2009 World Championships, is widely considered the most untouchable global standard on the men’s side. Posted at the peak of the super-suit era, it is the equivalent of back-to-back 400-meter performances of 3:46.06.
Men’s 200 Breaststroke
World Record: Anton Chupkov (Russia/2019) 2:06.12
2016 Olympic Champion: Dmitriy Balandin (Kazakhstan) 2:07.46
Most Titles: Japan (Six)
Biggest Victory Margin: 4.80 Seconds (Hakan Malmrot Over Thor Henning – 1920)
Top-Five Times (2021) – Olympic Qualifiers
1. Zac Stubblety-Cook (Australia) 2:06.28
2. Shoma Sato (Japan) 2:06.40
3. Anton Chupkov (Russia) 2:06.99
4. Arno Kamminga (Netherlands) 2:07.35
5. Nic Fink (United States) 2:07.55
Historical Note: The United States has not claimed the gold medal in this event since Mike Barrowman stood atop the podium at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.
Women’s 200 Butterfly
World Record: Liu Zige (China/2009) 2:01.81
2016 Olympic Champion: Mireia Belmonte (Spain) 2:04.85
Most Titles: United States (Four)
Biggest Victory Margin: 3.66 Seconds (Mary T. Meagher Over Karen Phillips – 1984)
Top-Five Times (2021) – Olympic Qualifiers
1. Zhang Yufei (China) 2:05.44
2. Hali Flickinger (United States) 2:05.85
3. Boglarka Kapas (Hungary) 2:06.50
4. Regan Smith (United States) 2:06.99
5. Yu Liyan (China) 2:07.03
Historical Note: The victory secured by American Mary T. Meagher at the 1984 Olympics arrived after she was denied an opportunity to race as the heavy favorite at the 1980 Games in Moscow. Meagher was one of hundreds of athletes whose Olympic hopes in 1980 were discarded by the United States’ decision to boycott those Games.
Men’s 100 Freestyle
World Record: Cesar Cielo (Brazil/2009) 46.91
2016 Olympic Champion: Kyle Chalmers (Australia) 47.58
Most Titles: United States (13)
Biggest Victory Margin: 2.40 Seconds (Johnny Weissmuller Over Duke Kahanamoku – 1924)
Top-Five Times (2021) – Olympic Qualifiers
1. Kliment Kolesnikov (Russia) 47.31
2. Caeleb Dressel (United States) 47.39
3. Alessandro Miressi (Italy) 47.45
4. Kyle Chalmers (Australia) 47.59
5. Zach Apple (United States) 47.72
Historical Note: American Johnny Weissmuller followed his back-to-back Olympic crowns by becoming the most-famed actor to play Tarzan on the silver screen.
Women’s 800 Freestyle Relay
World Record: Australia (2019) 7:41.50
2016 Olympic Champion: United States (Schmitt, Smith, DiRado, Ledecky) 7:43.03
Most Titles: United States (Five)
Biggest Victory Margin: 2.55 Seconds (United States Over China – 2004)
Historical Note: The 800 freestyle relay was not added to the women’s program at the Olympic Games until 1996 in Atlanta.
Which are the top 5 teams for 2021 in the women’s 800 relay?