{"id":592495,"date":"2024-07-27T02:27:36","date_gmt":"2024-07-27T09:27:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=592495"},"modified":"2024-07-27T05:40:23","modified_gmt":"2024-07-27T12:40:23","slug":"paris-olympics-day-1-prelims-zhang-yufei-leads-quick-100-fly-prelims","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/paris-olympics-day-1-prelims-zhang-yufei-leads-quick-100-fly-prelims\/","title":{"rendered":"Paris Olympics, Day 1 Prelims: Zhang Yufei Leads Quick 100 Fly Prelims"},"content":{"rendered":"

Paris Olympics, Day 1 Prelims: Zhang Yufei Leads Quick 100 Fly Prelims<\/strong><\/p>\n

The class of Olympic medal contenders runs pretty deep in the women\u2019s 100 butterfly. Morning prelims at the La Defense Arena in Paris did little to separate them.<\/p>\n

Zhang Yufei<\/strong> led the way in prelims with a time of 56.50 seconds, but seven swimmers at 57 seconds or under mean there are plenty of people who could emerge from this crucible with medals.<\/p>\n

Zhang won the first of three circle-seeded heats ahead of Emma McKeon\u2019s<\/strong> 56.79, which finished her fifth overall. The final heat produced three 56s, led by Japanese teen Mizuki Hirai<\/strong> in 56.71. She was .04 ahead of world record holder Gretchen Walsh<\/strong>.<\/p>\n