| | Event type

50 metres Freestyle, Women

Date	30 July – 1 August 2021
Status	Olympic
Location	Olympic Aquatics Centre, 2-1, 2chome, Tatsumi, Koto-ku, Tatsumi-no-Mori Seaside Park, Tokyo, Japan
Participants	81 from 73 countries

As was now traditional the 50 metre freestyle was the last women’s individual swim race of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Denmark’s Pernille Blume was the defending gold medallist and was back. Her biggest challengers were expected to be Australian sprinter Emma McKeon, the 2017 World Champion Sarah Sjöström of Sweden, and the Netherlands’ Ranomi Kromowidjojo, who had won gold at London in 2012. Simone Manuel, the 2016 100 freestyle gold medallist and 2019 World Champion in this event, was also back, but she would not make it out of the semi-finals.

For McKeon, the final day of swimming in Tokyo had big implications as she came into this event having already won five medals in 2020. She was likely a slight favorite as she had led both the heats and the semi-finals.

In the final McKeon had one of the slowest reaction times at 0.70, only leaving the blocks ahead of her teammate Cate Campbell, who reacted in 0.76. However, she overcame that to win gold fairly comfortably (0.26 seconds) over Sjöström, with Blume taking bronze, as Kromo just missed the podium in fourth.

For McKeon this was her sixth medal of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, a feat that only been done before by nine women, and by two other female swimmers – Kristin Otto of the GDR (East Germany) in 1988 and Natalie Coughlin of the USA in 2008. Less than an hour later McKeon would swim the butterfly leg as Australia won the women’s medley relay, giving her seven medals at Tokyo, matching the all-time women’s Olympic best in any sport, set by Soviet gymnast Mariya Gorokhovskaya at Helsinki in 1952.

Pos	Swimmer	NOC	R1	SF	Final
1	Emma McKeon	AUS	24.02 (1 h10)	24.00 (1 h2)	23.81 (1)	Gold
2	Sarah Sjöström	SWE	24.26 (1 h11)	24.13 (2 h1)	24.07 (2)	Silver
3	Pernille Blume	DEN	24.12 (1 h9)	24.08 (1 h1)	24.21 (3)	Bronze
4	Ranomi Kromowidjojo	NED	24.41 (4 h11)	24.29 (3 h1)	24.30 (4)
5	Katarzyna Wasick	POL	24.31 (2 h11)	24.26 (3 h2)	24.32 (=5)
6	Wu Qingfeng	CHN	24.55 (4 h9)	24.32 (4 h1)	24.32 (=5)
7	Cate Campbell	AUS	24.15 (2 h9)	24.27 (4 h2)	24.36 (7)
8	Abbey Weitzeil	USA	24.37 (3 h11)	24.19 (2 h2)	24.41 (8)
9	Zhang Yufei	CHN	24.36 (3 h9)	24.32 (5 h1)	–
10	Arina Surkova	ROC	24.52 (5 h11)	24.57 (5 h2)	–
11	Mélanie Henique	FRA	24.69 (4 h10)	24.63 (6 h2)	–
12	Simone Manuel	USA	24.65 (3 h10)	24.63 (7 h2)	–
13	Emma Chelius	RSA	24.65 (2 h10)	24.64 (6 h1)	–
14	Marie Wattel	FRA	24.82 (6 h9)	24.76 (7 h1)	–
15	Fanny Teijonsalo	FIN	24.79 (5 h9)	24.91 (8 h2)	–
16	Julie Jensen	DEN	24.70 (6 h11)	24.98 (8 h1)	–
17	Siobhán Haughey	HKG	24.75 (7 h11)	–	–
18	Femke Heemskerk	NED	24.77 (5 h10)	–	–
19	Mariya Kameneva	ROC	24.83 (6 h10)	–	–
20	Michelle Coleman	SWE	24.84 (7 h9)	–	–
21	Barbora Seemanová	CZE	24.92 (7 h10)	–	–
22	Kayla Sanchez	CAN	24.93 (8 h9)	–	–
23	Lidón Muñoz	ESP	25.10 (1 h8)	–	–
24	Farida Osman	EGY	25.13 (2 h8)	–	–
25	Anicka Delgado	ECU	25.36 (1 h6)	–	–
26	Julie Meynen	LUX	25.36 (3 h8)	–	–
27	Kalia Antoniou	CYP	25.41 (1 h7)	–	–
28	Isabella Arcila	COL	25.41 (4 h8)	–	–
29	Etiene Medeiros	BRA	25.45 (8 h10)	–	–
30	Andi Murez	ISR	25.48 (5 h8)	–	–
31	Bianca Costea	ROU	25.61 (2 h7)	–	–
32	Jeserik Pinto	VEN	25.65 (3 h7)	–	–
33	Danielle Hill	IRL	25.70 (6 h8)	–	–
34	Elinah Phillip	IVB	25.74 (2 h6)	–	–
35	Amel Melih	ALG	25.77 (4 h7)	–	–
36	Karen Torrez	BOL	25.77 (5 h7)	–	–
37	Jenjira Srisa-Ard	THA	25.97 (7 h8)	–	–
38	Huang Mei-Chien	TPE	25.99 (6 h7)	–	–
39	Allyson Ponson	ARU	26.03 (7 h7)	–	–
40	Quah Ting Wen	SGP	26.16 (8 h8)	–	–
41	Cherelle Thompson	TTO	26.19 (8 h7)	–	–
42	Nikol Merizaj	ALB	26.21 (3 h6)	–	–
43	Emily Muteti	KEN	26.31 (4 h6)	–	–
44	Norah Milanesi	CMR	26.41 (1 h5)	–	–
45	Talita Baqlah	JOR	26.49 (5 h6)	–	–
46	Ema Rajić	CRO	26.49 (6 h6)	–	–
47	Kirabo Namutebi	UGA	26.63 (7 h6)	–	–
48	Natalya Kritinina	UZB	26.93 (8 h6)	–	–
49	Mikaili Charlemagne	LCA	26.99 (2 h5)	–	–
50	Cheyenne Rova	FIJ	27.11 (3 h5)	–	–
51	Batbayar Enkhkhüslen	MGL	27.29 (4 h5)	–	–
52	Tilka Paljk	ZAM	27.34 (5 h5)	–	–
53	Judith Meauri	PNG	27.56 (1 h4)	–	–
54	Samantha Roberts	ANT	27.63 (6 h5)	–	–
55	Aleka Persaud	GUY	27.76 (2 h4)	–	–
56	Bisma Khan	PAK	27.78 (7 h5)	–	–
57	Unilez Takyi	GHA	27.85 (8 h5)	–	–
58	Angelika Ouédraogo	BUR	28.38 (3 h4)	–	–
59	Mya de Freitas	VIN	28.57 (4 h4)	–	–
60	Noor Yusuf	BRN	28.87 (5 h4)	–	–
61	Jessica Makwenda	MAW	28.96 (6 h4)	–	–
62	Anastasiya Tyurina	TJK	29.05 (1 h3)	–	–
63	Noelani Day	TGA	29.06 (7 h4)	–	–
64	Siri Budcharern	LAO	29.22 (2 h3)	–	–
65	Kheun Bunpichmorakat	CAM	29.42 (3 h3)	–	–
66	Alicia Mateus	MOZ	29.63 (8 h4)	–	–
67	Lara Dashti	KUW	29.69 (4 h3)	–	–
68	Junayna Ahmed	BAN	29.78 (5 h3)	–	–
69	Nafissath Radji	BEN	29.99 (6 h3)	–	–
70	Robyn Young	SWZ	30.41 (7 h3)	–	–
71	Dania Nour	PLE	30.43 (8 h3)	–	–
72	Alphonsine Agahozo	RWA	30.50 (1 h2)	–	–
73	Osisang Chilton	PLW	30.67 (2 h2)	–	–
74	Tity Dumbuya	SLE	31.56 (3 h2)	–	–
75	Chloé Sauvourel	CAF	32.18 (4 h2)	–	–
76	Roukaya Moussa Mahamane	NIG	32.21 (5 h2)	–	–
77	Aya Mpali	GAB	32.24 (6 h2)	–	–
78	Imelda Ximenes	TLS	32.89 (1 h1)	–	–
79	Odrina Kaze	BDI	33.39 (2 h1)	–	–
80	Haneen Ibrahim	SUD	34.49 (3 h1)	–	–
81	Stefan Sangala	CGO	37.92 (7 h2)	–	–
DNS	Nada Arkaji	QAT	– (DNS h2)	–	–
DNS	Anna Hopkin	GBR	– (DNS h11)	–	–

Round One (30 July 2021 — 19:23)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time
1	4	Emma McKeon	AUS	24.02	Q OR
2	5	Pernille Blume	DEN	24.12	Q
3	4	Cate Campbell	AUS	24.15	Q
4	4	Sarah Sjöström	SWE	24.26	Q
5	3	Katarzyna Wasick	POL	24.31	Q
6	6	Zhang Yufei	CHN	24.36	Q
7	6	Abbey Weitzeil	USA	24.37	Q
8	5	Ranomi Kromowidjojo	NED	24.41	Q
9	7	Arina Surkova	ROC	24.52	Q
10	2	Wu Qingfeng	CHN	24.55	Q
=11	8	Emma Chelius	RSA	24.65	Q
=11	5	Simone Manuel	USA	24.65	Q
13	2	Mélanie Henique	FRA	24.69	Q
14	8	Julie Jensen	DEN	24.70	Q
15	1	Siobhán Haughey	HKG	24.75
16	6	Femke Heemskerk	NED	24.77	Q
17	8	Fanny Teijonsalo	FIN	24.79
18	7	Marie Wattel	FRA	24.82
19	3	Mariya Kameneva	ROC	24.83
20	3	Michelle Coleman	SWE	24.84
21	1	Barbora Seemanová	CZE	24.92
22	1	Kayla Sanchez	CAN	24.93
23	5	Lidón Muñoz	ESP	25.10
24	6	Farida Osman	EGY	25.13
=25	4	Anicka Delgado	ECU	25.36
=25	4	Julie Meynen	LUX	25.36
=27	1	Kalia Antoniou	CYP	25.41
=27	3	Isabella Arcila	COL	25.41
29	7	Etiene Medeiros	BRA	25.45
30	2	Andi Murez	ISR	25.48
31	4	Bianca Costea	ROU	25.61
32	2	Jeserik Pinto	VEN	25.65
33	7	Danielle Hill	IRL	25.70
34	1	Elinah Phillip	IVB	25.74
=35	5	Amel Melih	ALG	25.77
=35	7	Karen Torrez	BOL	25.77
37	8	Jenjira Srisa-Ard	THA	25.97
38	1	Huang Mei-Chien	TPE	25.99
39	8	Allyson Ponson	ARU	26.03
40	3	Quah Ting Wen	SGP	26.16
41	6	Cherelle Thompson	TTO	26.19
42	7	Nikol Merizaj	ALB	26.21
43	6	Emily Muteti	KEN	26.31
44	4	Norah Milanesi	CMR	26.41
=45	3	Talita Baqlah	JOR	26.49
=45	5	Ema Rajić	CRO	26.49
47	8	Kirabo Namutebi	UGA	26.63
48	2	Natalya Kritinina	UZB	26.93
49	5	Mikaili Charlemagne	LCA	26.99
50	7	Cheyenne Rova	FIJ	27.11
51	1	Batbayar Enkhkhüslen	MGL	27.29
52	6	Tilka Paljk	ZAM	27.34
53	5	Judith Meauri	PNG	27.56
54	3	Samantha Roberts	ANT	27.63
55	4	Aleka Persaud	GUY	27.76
56	8	Bisma Khan	PAK	27.78
57	2	Unilez Takyi	GHA	27.85
58	1	Angelika Ouédraogo	BUR	28.38
59	6	Mya de Freitas	VIN	28.57
60	7	Noor Yusuf	BRN	28.87
61	8	Jessica Makwenda	MAW	28.96
62	4	Anastasiya Tyurina	TJK	29.05
63	3	Noelani Day	TGA	29.06
64	8	Siri Budcharern	LAO	29.22
65	5	Kheun Bunpichmorakat	CAM	29.42
66	2	Alicia Mateus	MOZ	29.63
67	2	Lara Dashti	KUW	29.69
68	1	Junayna Ahmed	BAN	29.78
69	6	Nafissath Radji	BEN	29.99
70	3	Robyn Young	SWZ	30.41
71	7	Dania Nour	PLE	30.43
72	1	Alphonsine Agahozo	RWA	30.50
73	2	Osisang Chilton	PLW	30.67
74	4	Tity Dumbuya	SLE	31.56
75	6	Chloé Sauvourel	CAF	32.18
76	3	Roukaya Moussa Mahamane	NIG	32.21
77	7	Aya Mpali	GAB	32.24
78	4	Imelda Ximenes	TLS	32.89
79	3	Odrina Kaze	BDI	33.39
80	5	Haneen Ibrahim	SUD	34.49
81	8	Stefan Sangala	CGO	37.92
DNS	5	Nada Arkaji	QAT	–
DNS	2	Anna Hopkin	GBR	–

Heat One (19:24)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Imelda Ximenes	TLS	– (–) –	32.89	0.70
2	3	Odrina Kaze	BDI	– (–) –	33.39	0.75
3	5	Haneen Ibrahim	SUD	– (–) –	34.49	0.78

Heat Two (19:26)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	1	Alphonsine Agahozo	RWA	– (–) –	30.50	0.72
2	2	Osisang Chilton	PLW	– (–) –	30.67	0.63
3	4	Tity Dumbuya	SLE	– (–) –	31.56	0.75
4	6	Chloé Sauvourel	CAF	– (–) –	32.18	0.71
5	3	Roukaya Moussa Mahamane	NIG	– (–) –	32.21	0.78
6	7	Aya Mpali	GAB	– (–) –	32.24	0.78
7	8	Stefan Sangala	CGO	– (–) –	37.92	0.93
DNS	5	Nada Arkaji	QAT	– (–) –	–	–

Heat Three (19:28)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Anastasiya Tyurina	TJK	– (–) –	29.05	0.72
2	8	Siri Budcharern	LAO	– (–) –	29.22	0.75
3	5	Kheun Bunpichmorakat	CAM	– (–) –	29.42	0.69
4	2	Lara Dashti	KUW	– (–) –	29.69	0.68
5	1	Junayna Ahmed	BAN	– (–) –	29.78	0.70
6	6	Nafissath Radji	BEN	– (–) –	29.99	0.70
7	3	Robyn Young	SWZ	– (–) –	30.41	0.70
8	7	Dania Nour	PLE	– (–) –	30.43	0.75

Heat Four (19:30)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	5	Judith Meauri	PNG	– (–) –	27.56	0.72
2	4	Aleka Persaud	GUY	– (–) –	27.76	0.60
3	1	Angelika Ouédraogo	BUR	– (–) –	28.38	0.65
4	6	Mya de Freitas	VIN	– (–) –	28.57	0.65
5	7	Noor Yusuf	BRN	– (–) –	28.87	0.71
6	8	Jessica Makwenda	MAW	– (–) –	28.96	0.75
7	3	Noelani Day	TGA	– (–) –	29.06	0.72
8	2	Alicia Mateus	MOZ	– (–) –	29.63	0.68

Heat Five (19:32)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Norah Milanesi	CMR	– (–) –	26.41	0.65
2	5	Mikaili Charlemagne	LCA	– (–) –	26.99	0.73
3	7	Cheyenne Rova	FIJ	– (–) –	27.11	0.75
4	1	Batbayar Enkhkhüslen	MGL	– (–) –	27.29	0.74
5	6	Tilka Paljk	ZAM	– (–) –	27.34	0.69
6	3	Samantha Roberts	ANT	– (–) –	27.63	0.71
7	8	Bisma Khan	PAK	– (–) –	27.78	0.73
8	2	Unilez Takyi	GHA	– (–) –	27.85	0.76

Heat Six (19:34)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Anicka Delgado	ECU	– (–) –	25.36	0.64
2	1	Elinah Phillip	IVB	– (–) –	25.74	0.67
3	7	Nikol Merizaj	ALB	– (–) –	26.21	0.60
4	6	Emily Muteti	KEN	– (–) –	26.31	0.67
5	3	Talita Baqlah	JOR	– (–) –	26.49	0.78
6	5	Ema Rajić	CRO	– (–) –	26.49	0.70
7	8	Kirabo Namutebi	UGA	– (–) –	26.63	0.63
8	2	Natalya Kritinina	UZB	– (–) –	26.93	0.69

Heat Seven (19:36)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	1	Kalia Antoniou	CYP	– (–) –	25.41	0.70
2	4	Bianca Costea	ROU	– (–) –	25.61	0.72
3	2	Jeserik Pinto	VEN	– (–) –	25.65	0.68
4	5	Amel Melih	ALG	– (–) –	25.77	0.70
5	7	Karen Torrez	BOL	– (–) –	25.77	0.61
6	1	Huang Mei-Chien	TPE	– (–) –	25.99	0.66
7	8	Allyson Ponson	ARU	– (–) –	26.03	0.64
8	6	Cherelle Thompson	TTO	– (–) –	26.19	0.67

Heat Eight (19:38)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	5	Lidón Muñoz	ESP	– (–) –	25.10	0.65
2	6	Farida Osman	EGY	– (–) –	25.13	0.70
3	4	Julie Meynen	LUX	– (–) –	25.36	0.62
4	3	Isabella Arcila	COL	– (–) –	25.41	0.65
5	2	Andi Murez	ISR	– (–) –	25.48	0.68
6	7	Danielle Hill	IRL	– (–) –	25.70	0.64
7	8	Jenjira Srisa-Ard	THA	– (–) –	25.97	0.62
8	3	Quah Ting Wen	SGP	– (–) –	26.16	0.67

Heat Nine (19:40)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	5	Pernille Blume	DEN	– (–) –	24.12	0.63	Q
2	4	Cate Campbell	AUS	– (–) –	24.15	0.80	Q
3	6	Zhang Yufei	CHN	– (–) –	24.36	0.64	Q
4	2	Wu Qingfeng	CHN	– (–) –	24.55	0.69	Q
5	8	Fanny Teijonsalo	FIN	– (–) –	24.79	0.61
6	7	Marie Wattel	FRA	– (–) –	24.82	0.69
7	3	Michelle Coleman	SWE	– (–) –	24.84	0.70
8	1	Kayla Sanchez	CAN	– (–) –	24.93	0.67

Heat Ten (19:42)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Emma McKeon	AUS	– (–) –	24.02	0.70	Q OR
2	8	Emma Chelius	RSA	– (–) –	24.65	0.67	Q
3	5	Simone Manuel	USA	– (–) –	24.65	0.69	Q
4	2	Mélanie Henique	FRA	– (–) –	24.69	0.59	Q
5	6	Femke Heemskerk	NED	– (–) –	24.77	0.72	Q
6	3	Mariya Kameneva	ROC	– (–) –	24.83	0.65
7	1	Barbora Seemanová	CZE	– (–) –	24.92	0.60
8	7	Etiene Medeiros	BRA	– (–) –	25.45	0.66

Heat Eleven (19:44)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Sarah Sjöström	SWE	– (–) –	24.26	0.64	Q
2	3	Katarzyna Wasick	POL	– (–) –	24.31	0.70	Q
3	6	Abbey Weitzeil	USA	– (–) –	24.37	0.65	Q
4	5	Ranomi Kromowidjojo	NED	– (–) –	24.41	0.67	Q
5	7	Arina Surkova	ROC	– (–) –	24.52	0.70	Q
6	8	Julie Jensen	DEN	– (–) –	24.70	0.67	Q
7	1	Siobhán Haughey	HKG	– (–) –	24.75	0.74
DNS	2	Anna Hopkin	GBR	– (–) –	–	–

Semi-Finals (31 July 2021 — 11:32)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time
1	4	Emma McKeon	AUS	24.00	Q OR
2	4	Pernille Blume	DEN	24.08	Q
3	5	Sarah Sjöström	SWE	24.13	Q
4	6	Abbey Weitzeil	USA	24.19	Q
5	3	Katarzyna Wasick	POL	24.26	Q
6	5	Cate Campbell	AUS	24.27	Q
7	6	Ranomi Kromowidjojo	NED	24.29	Q
=8	2	Wu Qingfeng	CHN	24.32
=8	3	Zhang Yufei	CHN	24.32
10	2	Arina Surkova	ROC	24.57
=11	1	Mélanie Henique	FRA	24.63
=11	7	Simone Manuel	USA	24.63
13	7	Emma Chelius	RSA	24.64
14	8	Marie Wattel	FRA	24.76
15	8	Fanny Teijonsalo	FIN	24.91
16	1	Julie Jensen	DEN	24.98

Heat One (11:32)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Pernille Blume	DEN	– (–) –	24.08	0.65	Q
2	5	Sarah Sjöström	SWE	– (–) –	24.13	0.65	Q
3	6	Ranomi Kromowidjojo	NED	– (–) –	24.29	0.67	Q
4	2	Wu Qingfeng	CHN	– (–) –	24.32	0.67
5	3	Zhang Yufei	CHN	– (–) –	24.32	0.62
6	7	Emma Chelius	RSA	– (–) –	24.64	0.69
7	8	Marie Wattel	FRA	– (–) –	24.76	0.70
8	1	Julie Jensen	DEN	– (–) –	24.98	0.66

Heat Two (11:37)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Emma McKeon	AUS	– (–) –	24.00	0.72	Q OR
2	6	Abbey Weitzeil	USA	– (–) –	24.19	0.65	Q
3	3	Katarzyna Wasick	POL	– (–) –	24.26	0.68	Q
4	5	Cate Campbell	AUS	– (–) –	24.27	0.76	Q
5	2	Arina Surkova	ROC	– (–) –	24.57	0.71
6	1	Mélanie Henique	FRA	– (–) –	24.63	0.58
7	7	Simone Manuel	USA	– (–) –	24.63	0.67
8	8	Fanny Teijonsalo	FIN	– (–) –	24.91	0.61

Final (30 July 2021 — 10:37)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Emma McKeon	AUS	– (–) –	23.81	0.70	OR
2	3	Sarah Sjöström	SWE	– (–) –	24.07	0.63
3	5	Pernille Blume	DEN	– (–) –	24.21	0.62
4	1	Ranomi Kromowidjojo	NED	– (–) –	24.30	0.67
=5	2	Katarzyna Wasick	POL	– (–) –	24.32	0.66
=5	8	Wu Qingfeng	CHN	– (–) –	24.32	0.70
7	7	Cate Campbell	AUS	– (–) –	24.36	0.76
8	6	Abbey Weitzeil	USA	– (–) –	24.41	0.64