100 metres Butterfly, Men

The United States’ Caeleb Dressel was the defending gold medalist and had dominated this event through early 2022, but he then took time off due to burn-out. He returned in late 2023 but was not at the same level. He made the American team in this event but would finish only 13th in the semi-finals and did not make the final.

Hungary’s Kristóf Milák had won silver at Tokyo 2020 and took gold in the 200 fly. He won this event at the 2022 World Championships and the 2020 and 2022 European Championships, and was the favorite in Paris. Three days earlier, he had taken silver in the 200 butterfly.

His biggest challengers in the final were expected to be Swiss Noè Ponti, bronze medalist at Tokyo 2020, Australian Matthew Temple, and Canada’s Josh Liendo, medalist at the 2022 (bronze) and 2023 (silver) World Championships.

The final was led early by Dutch swimmer Nyls Korstanje, but he flagged badly on the final lap and finished sixth. Temple was never in it and finished just behind him. Liendo was second at the turn, but Milák would finish in 26.50 to take gold in 49.90, his second fastest time ever, with Liendo taking silver, also under 50 seconds in 49.99, only the fifth swimmer to break that barrier. Liendo also became the first Black Canadian swimmer to win an Olympic medal. Third place would go to another Canadian, Ilya Kharun.