Women’s 100m Backstroke - Kaylee McKeown Wins the Lot in Heavily-Hyped Race

It was one of the most talked about races of the swimming program at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The impending matchup between world record holder Regan Smith and defending Olympic champion Kaylee McKeown with Olympic gold on the line was talked about around the world.

On Tuesday night with the whole world watching, McKeown became just the second woman to win back to back gold medals in this event, joining American Natalie Coughlin in the exclusive club.

McKeown, coached by Michael Bohl at the University of Sunshine Coast, won gold at 57.33, backing up her gold from Tokyo 2020 as she took the Olympic record with her.

“It feels surreal to be honest with you, and I wasn’t sure if I’d be any good there tonight,” McKeown said. “I didn’t put expectations on myself, I was going to get out and enjoy the atmosphere, and that’s the best you can do for yourself. 

"I knew it was going to come down to the last five metres. We’re both extremely good athletes, and both extremely good trainers, so it’s just who feels better on the day, and she pushed me the whole way through. You wait for the race and finish it, and I can’t even remember it now." 

Smith, coached by Bob Bowman, won silver at 57.66. The swim elevates her bronze from Tokyo and it’s her fourth career medal at age 22. 

“I knew it was going to be such a fight,” Smith said. “Kaylee is an exceptional competitor, and Katherine broke 58 (seconds) this year, so this is the fastest 100 backstroke final ever.”

The gold medal still eludes her, but the pair are expected to meet once more in the 200m backstroke later on in the week.

“Regan pushes me to the best of my abilities,” McKeown said of Smith. “We had a special moment after the race, just thanking one another. I wouldn’t be the athlete I am if it wasn’t for her.”

“The thing that is most important is that we are pushing the sport in the right direction,” Smith said of McKeown. “Our rivalry is great for attention in the sport. We have so much respect for each other.”

Smith was leading at 50 meters in a dead heat with Canada’s Kylie Masse at 28.02, and as the field came out of the turn, the other American Katharine Berkoff emerged with the lead. 

It almost looked as if Smith and Berkoff were headed for a historic 1-2 finish and Smith could follow up the world record last month with Olympic gold.

As the field came barreling towards the finish, McKeown stayed close and used her patented last 15 meters that have made her so tough to beat in this event, touching the wall three-tenths ahead of her biggest rival, Smith.

Berkoff, coached by Braden Holloway at North Carolina State University, won the bronze at 57.98, her first medal at the Games. Berkoff was greeted by her father, David, after the medal ceremony, who won silver in this event in 1988 and bronze in 1992. 

In fact, David Berkoff won 100m backstroke bronze exactly 32 years ago to the date on July 30, 1992.

“Oh that’s so weird I did not know that. That’s crazy,” Katharine Berkoff said.

“When my dad hugged me, he told me he was so proud of me. That’s really all that was said. It’s just been really special to follow in his footsteps. He was my first inspiration; I wouldn’t be where I am today without him. I mean, when I figured out what he had done, I decided I wanted to do the same thing.”

Canada’s Masse finished fourth at 58.29, missing a chance for her third straight podium in the event after bronze in Rio 2016 and silver in Tokyo 2020. Masse, age 28, was also joined in the final by teammate Ingrid Wilm (59.25).

Australia’s Iona Anderson (58.98), who won silver in this event at last year’s World Juniors, finished fifth in her Olympic debut at age 18.

France’s Emma Terebo (59.40) and Beryl Gastaldello (59.80) also competed in the Olympic final, placing seventh and eighth.

Men’s 800m Freestyle - It’s Dan Time! Wiffen wins Ireland’s first gold medal in 28 years

History was made once more at the La Defense Arena in the men’s 800m freestyle when Daniel Wiffen became Ireland’s first male swimmer to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games. Wiffen had been building a big profile, steadily improving his times, moving from 14th in Tokyo 2020, eighth in Budapest 2022, and fourth in Fukuoka 2023.

Closing out last year, Wiffen broke the 1500m world record in short course meters at the European Championships, and followed that up with the World title in Doha in February with the fastest time in the world at 7:40, and was the gold medal favorite coming into this race.

Wiffen had been steadily building and building and seemed poised for a big swim on Tuesday night.

The 23-year-old Irishman, coached by Andi Manley at Loughborough in the United Kingdom, bided his time throughout the race, staying in the top three at each turn after 150 meters. By 400 meters, Wiffen took the lead at 3:48.82, and the race between him, defending champion Bobby Finke of the United States, and Olympic 1500m champion Gregorio Paltrinieri of Italy.

Paltrinieri, aware of the finishing kick by Wiffen and Finke, took the lead at 650m and looked to win Italy’s third gold medal in as many nights at these Paris Olympics. By 750m, Wiffen and Finke were building, and the race for gold was on.

Wiffen held his own against the patented finishing kick by Finke, winning gold for Ireland at 7:38.19, breaking the Olympic record in the process. Finke won the silver at 7:38.75, while Paltrinieri won the bronze at 7:39.38.

"The only voice I heard in the crowd was my twin brother Nathan’s,” Wiffen said. “I think that’s what kept me level-headed when I walked out."

The emotion of winning Ireland’s first swimming gold medal since 1996 showed on Wiffen’s face in the medal ceremony.

"I don’t normally cry,” Wiffen said. “I was hoping no one would get to see that. It’s a special moment. I dreamed of this every day of my life. I’ve never heard that national anthem at the Olympics before, and it’s crazy to say that it was me standing on that podium."

"I told everyone I was going to do it. It’s just good to see it on paper. This season I’m undefeated in major competitions, which I don’t know has happened at any event. That podium was definitely the best of them all."

Finke, coached by Anthony Nesty at the University of Florida, won his third career Olympic medal at age 24, as he will also be a gold medal favorite in the 1500m alongside Wiffen.

Paltrinieri, coached by Fabrizio Antonelli, won his fourth career Olympic medal in his fourth trip to the Games at age 29,

“It was really tough,” Paltrinieri said. “I knew my strategy was to try to escape from the guys because they have a strong finish, so I did my best. I knew I could have been on the podium, so for me, it's a big achievement.”

Paltrinieri has been a mainstay on the scene in international swimming since he made his debut at age 16 at the 2011 World Aquatics Championships in Shanghai.

“The first time I raced Greg in 2017 in the 1500, he would not remember that, but I got dead last in that race.”

Tunisia’s Ahmed Jaouadi (7:42.83) finished fourth overall ahead of Germany’s Sven Schwarz (7:43.59) and France’s David Aubry (7:43.59) who tied for fifth.

Italy’s Luca de Tullio (7:46.16) and Australia’s Elijah Winnington (7:48.36) also competed in the Olympic final.

Men’s 4x200m Freestyle - Great Britain Dominates Once More

For the second straight Olympics, the team of James Guy (1:45.09), Tom Dean (1:45.28), Matthew Richards (1:45.11), and Duncan Scott (1:43.95) won the gold medal in the 4x200m freestyle at 6:59.43. The world record of 6:58.55 by the United States from the Rome 2009 World Championships eluded them once more, but they achieved history by repeating as gold medalists from Tokyo 2020.

“It doesn’t get much more special than this,” Richards said. “Being on a team with these three boys has just been incredible. I was 11 when (Guy) won the World Championships in 2015, and now we’ve won two Olympic gold medals together. He’s been training with me this year, when I’ve had success individually.”

Never before had the same four swimmers won back to back in the same relay. The team dominated the relay in 2020 and won the World title in 2023, but had to fight with the Americans for the gold tonight.

"Everybody was saying it was going to be an easy win and it was not,” Richards said. “It’s a class field out there. Everyone in there is a class act. We showed them the respect they have earned. We’re getting in there to win races."

The United States returned to the podium after a disappointing fourth place finish in Tokyo as the team of Luke Hobson (1:45.55), Carson Foster (1:45.31), Drew Kibler (1:45.12) and Kieran Smith (1:44.80) won silver at 7:00.78. It is the Americans’ first silver in the relay since Sydney 2000.

“It was a great swim by all of us,” Smith said. “We came up a little bit short of our main goal, which was gold. I feel very confident jumping into the water, knowing I’m going to produce a swim that’s probably outside of my preparation level, I usually overperform on that leg. I can swim for my country and for something greater than myself.”

Australia won the bronze at 7:01.98 with the team of Maximilian Giuliani (1:45.99), Flynn Southam (1:45.53), Elijah Winnington (1:45.19), and Thomas Neill (1:45.27), matching the team’s bronze from Tokyo 2020.

The quickest splits outside the top four came from Korea’s Kim Woo-min (1:44.98), Germany’s Lukas Martens (1:45.31), Japan’s Katsuhiro Matsumoto (1:45.31), and China’s Zhang Zhanshuo (1:45.37).

China (7:04.37) finished fourth ahead of host nation France (7:04.80). Republic of Korea (7:07.26), Japan (7:07.48), Germany (7:09.56) and Israel (7:10.22) also swam in the Olympic final as nine lanes were used due to a tie for eighth place in the heats.

Semis Wrap

Men’s 100m freestyle

China’s Pan Zhanle moved from 15th after the heats to top seed after semis with a 47.21 to lead the 100m freestyle qualifiers into tomorrow. Pan, the world and Olympic record holder, is aiming to be China’s first ever Olympic gold medalist in this event.

Pan is ahead of 2016 Olympic champ Kyle Chalmers (47.58) of Australia. Only four men have won back to back gold medals in this event. Chalmers won silver in Tokyo 2020 in addition to his gold in Rio 2016 as he could be the third man to make three Olympic podiums in this event after Duke Kahanamoku (1912, 1920, 1924) and Alexander Popov (1992, 1996, 2000). Kahanamoku is the only man to win this event eight years apart.

Former world record holder and 200m champion David Popovici of Romania is seeded fifth for tomorrow at 47.66 as he is looking to become the third man to win the 100m and 200m freestyle at the same Olympics, joining Pieter van den Hoogenband (2000) and Mark Spitz (1972).

France’s Maxime Grousset (47.63), who won bronze at last year’s Worlds, gave the La Defense Arena crowd something to cheer about as he is the fourth seed for tomorrow’s final.

Hungary’s Nandor Nemeth (47.61) qualified third as he has made six straight World and Olympic 100m freestyle finals.

United States qualified two to the final with Jack Alexy (47.68) and Chris Guiliano (47.72). Germany’s Josha Salchow (47.94) qualified through as well in eighth.

Men’s 200m butterfly

Hungary’s Kristof Milak cruised through the semis of the 200m butterfly with the fastest time for tomorrow’s final at 1:52.72, leading last year’s World champ Leon Marchand (1:53.50) of France to set up a showdown for the ages. Michael Phelps is the only swimmer to successfully defend this gold medal at the Olympics and Milak is looking to join elite company at age 24 after he won in Tokyo three years ago.

Canada’s Ilya Kharun, who trained alongside Marchand at Arizona State this past winter before the latter made the move to Austin, Texas, qualified third in 1:54.01. Kharun, age 19, could be Canada’s first Olympic medalist in a men’s butterfly event since 1972 if he can finish in the top three tomorrow.

Switzerland’s Noe Ponti (1:54.14) qualified fourth as he is a big chance for a medal tomorrow night.

Poland’s Krzysztof Chmielewski (1:54.28), who won silver at last year’s Worlds, qualified sixth as he was the 2022 World Juniors champ and one of just two swimmers from the Tokyo final to make the Paris final tomorrow.

Estonia’s Kregor Zirk (1:54.22), Italy’s Alberto Razzetti (1:54.51), and Austria’s Martin Espernberger (1:54.62) also qualified for the Olympic final. 1:54.62 is the fastest ever eighth place semi-final time in this event at a Worlds or Olympics, usurping the 1:54.75 from the 2009 World Championships.

Zirk is the second ever swimming finalist for Estonia, joining Eneli Jefimova from last night’s 100m breaststroke as the first to ever do it.

Women’s 100m freestyle

In the blue ribbon event, tomorrow’s gold medal looks to be up in the air amongst all eight of the finalists, with the top eight from the semis separated by 0.54. Last year’s World champion Mollie O’Callaghan (52.75) of Australia is seeded third as she is looking to become the first woman since 1980 to win the 100m-200m freestyle double at the same Olympics.

The fastest time in the world this year coming into the Games was Marrit Steenbergen (52.86) of the Netherlands, who is seeded fifth and looking to be the fourth Dutchwoman to win this event at the Olympics.

The top seed though is Hong Kong, China’s Siobhan Haughey (52.64), who won silver in Tokyo 2020 and bronze in last night’s 200m freestyle. If Haughey wins, it would be Hong Kong, China’s first ever Olympic gold medal in swimming.

World record holder Sarah Sjostrom (52.87) of Sweden is sixth as she previously won bronze in Rio 2016 and was fifth in Tokyo 2020.

Australia’s Shayna Jack (52.72) is also looking to be the spoiler as the second seed.

China’s Yang Junxuan (52.81), United States’s Torri Huske (52.99) and Gretchen Walsh (53.18) also advanced to tomorrow’s Olympic final.

All in all, three of the finalists tomorrow have won gold medals individually at the Olympics - O’Callaghan, Sjostrom, and Huske.

Men’s 200m breaststroke

France’s Leon Marchand successfully completed the semis double on Tuesday night, advancing to tomorrow’s 200m breaststroke final as the top seed at 2:08.11. Marchand, already a winner in Sunday’s 400m IM, is going for his second and third gold medal tomorrow night as he looks to make history as the first swimmer to win two individual gold medals in the same night.

Marchand’s biggest challenger will be defending champion Zac Stubblety-Cook (2:08.57) of Australia as he qualified second after the semis. Only two men have successfully won back to back gold medals in this event since its debut at London 1908 - Japan’s Yoshiyuki Tsuruta (1928, 1932) and Kosuke Kitajima (2004, 2008).

Japan advanced two to the final tomorrow with former world record holder Ippei Watanabe (2:09.62) and 2022 Worlds silver medalist Yu Hanaguruma (2:09.72) in fifth and seventh. Of the 26 times this event has been contested at the Games, Japan has won six gold medals - the most of any nation.

China’s Dong Zhihao (2:08.99) is the third seed ahead of Caspar Corbeau (2:09.52) from the Netherlands, who was eighth in the 100m final on Sunday.

United States’s Josh Matheny (2:09.70) and Australia’s Joshua Yong (2:09.89) also advanced to the Olympic final.

Of note, world record holder and last year’s World champion Qin Haiyang of China (2:09.96) tied for tenth with world ranked #1 swimmer this year Matt Fallon of the United States (2:09.96) as both will miss tomorrow’s final.

Women’s 1500m freestyle

Katie Ledecky of the United States eased through the heats this morning with a 15:47.43 as she is the top seed going for a gold medal defense in Wednesday’s final after the event made its debut three years ago at Tokyo 2020. Her biggest challenger is Italy’s Simona Quadarella (15:51.19), who won the World title this year and is ranked fourth all-time at age 25. Italy has had a tremendous Games thus far, winning two gold medals thus far in the pool through three full days.

France could get its first medal in the pool on the women’s side as Anastasiia Kirpichnikova (15:52.46) is the third seed ahead of Germany’s Isabel Gose (15:53.27).

China’s Li Bingjie is also expected to challenge for a medal as the sixth seed after she went 16:05.26 in the heats.

Australia’s Moesha Johnson (16:04.02), Brazil’s Beatriz Dizotti (16:05.40) and Germany’s Leonie Martens (16:08.69), who saw her brother Lukas win gold in the 400m on Saturday, also advanced to the Olympic final to be held on Wednesday night.