| | Event type

50 metres Freestyle, Men

Date	14 – 16 August 2008
Status	Olympic
Location	Beijing Guojia Youyong Zhongxin, Beijing Aolinpike Gongyuan, Beijing
Participants	97 from 90 countries

The shortest race on the Olympic schedule was expected to be a sequel to the 100 freestyle which had taken place a few days earlier with France’s Alain Bernard and Eamon Sullivan of Australian once more to the fore. The two men had traded the world record between them in the early part of the Olympic year with Sullivan emerging as the current holder with a blistering performance at the Australian trials. Sullivan, perhaps smarting from his defeat in the 100, was not a factor in the final and the race instead marked the breakthrough of American-trained Brazilian César Cielo Filho. The NCAA champion fought off the challenges of Bernard and his compatriot Amaury Leveaux to record a historic victory for Brazil. It was the first time that a Brazilian swimmer had won an Olympic title.

Pos	Swimmer	NOC	R1	SF	Final
1	César Cielo Filho	BRA	21.47 (1 h11)	21.34 (1 h1)	21.30 (1)	Gold
2	Amaury Leveaux	FRA	21.46 (1 h12)	21.76 (=4 h2)	21.45 (2)	Silver
3	Alain Bernard	FRA	21.78 (2 h13)	21.54 (1 h2)	21.49 (3)	Bronze
4	Ashley Callus	AUS	22.11 (4 h13)	21.68 (2 h2)	21.62 (4)
5	Ben Wildman-Tobriner	USA	21.75 (=2 h12)	21.76 (=4 h2)	21.64 (5)
6	Eamon Sullivan	AUS	21.79 (3 h13)	21.75 (3 h1)	21.65 (6)
7	Roland Schoeman	RSA	21.76 (1 h13)	21.74 (3 h2)	21.67 (7)
8	Stefan Nystrand	SWE	21.75 (=2 h12)	21.71 (2 h1)	21.72 (8)
9	Krisztián Takács	HUN	22.14 (5 h12)	21.84 (4 h1)	–
10	Duje Draganja	CRO	22.05 (5 h11)	21.85 (5 h1)	–
11	George Bovell	TTO	21.77 (2 h11)	21.86 (6 h1)	–
12	Gideon Louw	RSA	22.17 (6 h12)	21.97 (7 h1)	–
14	Garrett Weber-Gale	USA	21.95 (3 h11)	22.08 (6 h2)	–
13	Rafed El-Masri	GER	21.96 (4 h12)	22.09 (8 h1)	–
15	Bartosz Kizierowski	POL	22.15 (6 h11)	22.12 (7 h2)	–
16	Nicholas Santos	BRA	22.00 (4 h11)	22.15 (8 h2)	–
17	Andrey Grechin	RUS	22.20 (7 h12)	–	–
18	Jernej Godec	SLO	22.21 (1 h10)	–	–
19	Flori Lang	SUI	22.27 (1 h8)	–	–
20	David Dunford	KEN	22.29 (1 h9)	–	–
21	Yevgeny Lagunov	RUS	22.30 (5 h13)	–	–
22	Javier Noriega	ESP	22.33 (7 h11)	–	–
=23	Mark Foster	GBR	22.35 (=6 h13)	–	–
=23	Salim Iles	ALG	22.35 (=6 h13)	–	–
25	Miko Mälberg	EST	22.37 (2 h9)	–	–
26	Apostolos Tsagkarakis	GRE	22.39 (2 h10)	–	–
27	Richard Hortness	CAN	22.42 (3 h10)	–	–
28	Yoris Grandjean	BEL	22.45 (4 h10)	–	–
29	Matti Rajakylä	FIN	22.48 (5 h10)	–	–
=30	Cai Li	CHN	22.50 (=3 h9)	–	–
=30	Alessandro Calvi	ITA	22.50 (=3 h9)	–	–
32	Robert Lijesen	NED	22.51 (6 h10)	–	–
33	Jakob Andkjær	DEN	22.52 (7 h10)	–	–
34	Jacinto Ayala	DOM	22.57 (2 h8)	–	–
35	José Meolans	ARG	22.58 (8 h10)	–	–
36	Andrei Radzionau	BLR	22.65 (5 h9)	–	–
37	Kaan Tayla	TUR	22.66 (8 h11)	–	–
38	Steffen Deibler	GER	22.67 (8 h13)	–	–
39	Daniel Coakley	PHI	22.69 (6 h9)	–	–
40	Virdhawal Khade	IND	22.73 (7 h9)	–	–
41	Oliver Elliot	CHI	22.75 (1 h7)	–	–
42	Yuriy Yehoshyn	UKR	22.77 (3 h8)	–	–
43	Norbert Trandafir	ROU	22.80 (2 h7)	–	–
44	Árni Árnason	ISL	22.81 (3 h7)	–	–
=45	Jevon Atkinson	JAM	22.83 (4 h7)	–	–
=45	Mohammed Madouh	KUW	22.83 (4 h8)	–	–
47	Jonathan Camacho	VEN	22.87 (5 h8)	–	–
48	Stanislav Kuzmin	KAZ	22.91 (5 h7)	–	–
49	Camilo Becerra	COL	22.93 (8 h9)	–	–
50	Francisco Picasso	URU	23.01 (6 h8)	–	–
51	Martyn Forde	BAR	23.08 (6 h7)	–	–
52	Elvis Burrows	BAH	23.19 (7 h8)	–	–
53	Josh Laban	ISV	23.28 (7 h7)	–	–
54	Mohamed Mamduh	EGY	23.92 (8 h12)	–	–
55	Yellow Yei Yah	NGR	24.00 (1 h6)	–	–
56	Vitaly Vasilyev	KGZ	24.02 (8 h7)	–	–
57	Rodion Davelaar	AHO	24.21 (2 h6)	–	–
58	Rolandas Gimbutis	LTU	24.36 (8 h8)	–	–
59	Anas Hamoudeh	JOR	24.40 (3 h6)	–	–
60	Luke Hall	SWZ	24.41 (4 h6)	–	–
61	Alain Brigion	CMR	24.53 (1 h5)	–	–
62	Aloïs Dansou	BEN	24.54 (1 h1)	–	–
63	Sidni Hoxha	ALB	24.56 (2 h5)	–	–
64	Omar Jasim	BRN	24.65 (2 h1)	–	–
65	Zane Jordan	ZAM	24.82 (3 h5)	–	–
66	Daniel Lee	SRI	24.92 (5 h6)	–	–
67	Chakyl Camal	MOZ	24.93 (6 h6)	–	–
68	Andrey Molchanov	TKM	25.02 (4 h5)	–	–
69	Niall Roberts	GUY	25.13 (7 h6)	–	–
70	Kerson Hadley	FSM	25.34 (5 h5)	–	–
71	Stewart Glenister	ASA	25.45 (1 h4)	–	–
72	John Kamyuka	BOT	25.54 (6 h5)	–	–
73	Hamza Abdo	PLE	25.60 (2 h4)	–	–
74	Adil Baig	PAK	25.66 (7 h5)	–	–
75	Yasser Núñez	NCA	26.00 (3 h1)	–	–
76	Kouassi Brou	CIV	26.08 (8 h5)	–	–
77	Zin Kyaw	MYA	26.17 (3 h4)	–	–
78	Tural Abbasov	AZE	26.31 (4 h4)	–	–
79	Hem Thon Ponloeu	CAM	27.39 (5 h4)	–	–
80	Charlton Nyirenda	MAW	27.46 (1 h3)	–	–
81	Prasiddha Shah	NEP	27.59 (6 h4)	–	–
82	Gilbert Kaburu	UGA	27.72 (7 h4)	–	–
83	Jackson Niyomugabo	RWA	27.74 (2 h3)	–	–
84	Khalid Rushaka	TAN	28.50 (3 h3)	–	–
85	Dwayne Didon	SEY	28.95 (4 h3)	–	–
86	Mohamed Coulibaly	MLI	29.09 (5 h3)	–	–
87	Alisher Chingizov	TJK	29.10 (6 h3)	–	–
88	Ibrahim Shameel	MDV	29.28 (7 h3)	–	–
89	Mamadou Cisse	GUI	29.29 (8 h3)	–	–
90	Thepphithak Chindavong	LAO	29.31 (1 h2)	–	–
91	Mohamed Attoumane	COM	29.63 (8 h6)	–	–
92	Rene Yougbare	BUR	30.08 (2 h2)	–	–
93	Ahmed Adam	SUD	30.12 (8 h4)	–	–
94	Abdulsalam Al-Gadabi	YEM	30.63 (3 h2)	–	–
95	Mohamed Alhousseini	NIG	30.90 (4 h2)	–	–
96	Kareem Valentine	ANT	31.23 (5 h2)	–	–
97	Stany Kempompo Ngangola	COD	35.19 (6 h2)	–	–

Round One (14 August 2008)

Fastest 16 swimmers advanced to semi-finals

Heat One (18:33)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Aloïs Dansou	BEN	– (–) –	24.54	0.77
2	5	Omar Jasim	BRN	– (–) –	24.65	0.82
3	3	Yasser Núñez	NCA	– (–) –	26.00	0.73

Heat Two (18:35)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	3	Thepphithak Chindavong	LAO	– (–) –	29.31	1.04
2	6	Rene Yougbare	BUR	– (–) –	30.08	1.01
3	4	Abdulsalam Al-Gadabi	YEM	– (–) –	30.63	0.85
4	5	Mohamed Alhousseini	NIG	– (–) –	30.90	1.23
5	2	Kareem Valentine	ANT	– (–) –	31.23	1.06
6	7	Stany Kempompo Ngangola	COD	– (–) –	35.19	1.11

Heat Three (18:37)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	5	Charlton Nyirenda	MAW	– (–) –	27.46	0.82
2	3	Jackson Niyomugabo	RWA	– (–) –	27.74	1.01
3	7	Khalid Rushaka	TAN	– (–) –	28.50	0.81
4	6	Dwayne Didon	SEY	– (–) –	28.95	0.75
5	8	Mohamed Coulibaly	MLI	– (–) –	29.09	0.89
6	1	Alisher Chingizov	TJK	– (–) –	29.10	0.92
7	2	Ibrahim Shameel	MDV	– (–) –	29.28	0.67
8	4	Mamadou Cisse	GUI	– (–) –	29.29	0.73

Heat Four (18:40)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Stewart Glenister	ASA	– (–) –	25.45	0.71
2	3	Hamza Abdo	PLE	– (–) –	25.60	0.71
3	5	Zin Kyaw	MYA	– (–) –	26.17	0.79
4	6	Tural Abbasov	AZE	– (–) –	26.31	0.77
5	1	Hem Thon Ponloeu	CAM	– (–) –	27.39	0.77
6	7	Prasiddha Shah	NEP	– (–) –	27.59	0.77
7	8	Gilbert Kaburu	UGA	– (–) –	27.72	0.80
8	2	Ahmed Adam	SUD	– (–) –	30.12	1.02

Heat Five (18:42)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	7	Alain Brigion	CMR	– (–) –	24.53	0.66
2	5	Sidni Hoxha	ALB	– (–) –	24.56	0.71
3	4	Zane Jordan	ZAM	– (–) –	24.82	0.67
4	3	Andrey Molchanov	TKM	– (–) –	25.02	0.77
5	6	Kerson Hadley	FSM	– (–) –	25.34	0.74
6	1	John Kamyuka	BOT	– (–) –	25.54	0.67
7	2	Adil Baig	PAK	– (–) –	25.66	0.77
8	8	Kouassi Brou	CIV	– (–) –	26.08	0.72

Heat Six (18:44)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Yellow Yei Yah	NGR	– (–) –	24.00	0.76
2	5	Rodion Davelaar	AHO	– (–) –	24.21	0.68
3	6	Anas Hamoudeh	JOR	– (–) –	24.40	0.70
4	2	Luke Hall	SWZ	– (–) –	24.41	0.66
5	1	Daniel Lee	SRI	– (–) –	24.92	0.75
6	7	Chakyl Camal	MOZ	– (–) –	24.93	0.76
7	8	Niall Roberts	GUY	– (–) –	25.13	0.76
8	3	Mohamed Attoumane	COM	– (–) –	29.63	0.75

Heat Seven (18:46)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Oliver Elliot	CHI	– (–) –	22.75	0.72
2	2	Norbert Trandafir	ROU	– (–) –	22.80	0.76
3	8	Árni Árnason	ISL	– (–) –	22.81	0.76
4	5	Jevon Atkinson	JAM	– (–) –	22.83	0.67
5	6	Stanislav Kuzmin	KAZ	– (–) –	22.91	0.81
6	3	Martyn Forde	BAR	– (–) –	23.08	0.64
7	1	Josh Laban	ISV	– (–) –	23.28	0.66
8	7	Vitaly Vasilyev	KGZ	– (–) –	24.02	0.85

Heat Eight (18:48)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Flori Lang	SUI	– (–) –	22.27	0.61
2	8	Jacinto Ayala	DOM	– (–) –	22.57	0.62
3	3	Yuriy Yehoshyn	UKR	– (–) –	22.77	0.88
4	1	Mohammed Madouh	KUW	– (–) –	22.83	0.68
5	6	Jonathan Camacho	VEN	– (–) –	22.87	0.72
6	5	Francisco Picasso	URU	– (–) –	23.01	0.68
7	2	Elvis Burrows	BAH	– (–) –	23.19	0.67
8	7	Rolandas Gimbutis	LTU	– (–) –	24.36	0.79

Heat Nine (18:50)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	1	David Dunford	KEN	– (–) –	22.29	0.77
2	6	Miko Mälberg	EST	– (–) –	22.37	0.65
=3	3	Cai Li	CHN	– (–) –	22.50	0.72
=3	7	Alessandro Calvi	ITA	– (–) –	22.50	0.75
5	2	Andrei Radzionau	BLR	– (–) –	22.65	0.81
6	8	Daniel Coakley	PHI	– (–) –	22.69	0.68
7	5	Virdhawal Khade	IND	– (–) –	22.73	0.73
8	4	Camilo Becerra	COL	– (–) –	22.93	0.72

Heat Ten (18:53)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Jernej Godec	SLO	– (–) –	22.21	0.71
2	5	Apostolos Tsagkarakis	GRE	– (–) –	22.39	0.69
3	6	Richard Hortness	CAN	– (–) –	22.42	0.65
4	7	Yoris Grandjean	BEL	– (–) –	22.45	0.74
5	1	Matti Rajakylä	FIN	– (–) –	22.48	0.67
6	3	Robert Lijesen	NED	– (–) –	22.51	0.73
7	2	Jakob Andkjær	DEN	– (–) –	22.52	0.67
8	8	José Meolans	ARG	– (–) –	22.58	0.80

Heat Eleven (18:55)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	5	César Cielo Filho	BRA	– (–) –	21.47	0.67	QOR
2	1	George Bovell	TTO	– (–) –	21.77	0.67	Q
3	4	Garrett Weber-Gale	USA	– (–) –	21.95	0.68	Q
4	7	Nicholas Santos	BRA	– (–) –	22.00	0.79	Q
5	3	Duje Draganja	CRO	– (–) –	22.05	0.71	Q
6	6	Bartosz Kizierowski	POL	– (–) –	22.15	0.70	Q
7	2	Javier Noriega	ESP	– (–) –	22.33	0.69
8	8	Kaan Tayla	TUR	– (–) –	22.66	0.72

Heat Twelve (18:57)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Amaury Leveaux	FRA	– (–) –	21.46	0.75	QOR
=2	3	Stefan Nystrand	SWE	– (–) –	21.75	0.80	Q
=2	5	Ben Wildman-Tobriner	USA	– (–) –	21.75	0.77	Q
4	7	Rafed El-Masri	GER	– (–) –	21.96	0.76	Q
5	6	Krisztián Takács	HUN	– (–) –	22.14	0.69	Q
6	2	Gideon Louw	RSA	– (–) –	22.17	0.76	Q
7	1	Andrey Grechin	RUS	– (–) –	22.20	0.73
8	8	Mohamed Mamduh	EGY	– (–) –	23.92	0.75

Heat Thirteen (18:59)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	3	Roland Schoeman	RSA	– (–) –	21.76	0.66	Q
2	5	Alain Bernard	FRA	– (–) –	21.78	0.74	Q
3	4	Eamon Sullivan	AUS	– (–) –	21.79	0.67	Q
4	2	Ashley Callus	AUS	– (–) –	22.11	0.67	Q
5	1	Yevgeny Lagunov	RUS	– (–) –	22.30	0.73
=6	6	Mark Foster	GBR	– (–) –	22.35	0.85
=6	8	Salim Iles	ALG	– (–) –	22.35	0.67
8	7	Steffen Deibler	GER	– (–) –	22.67	0.75

Semi-Finals (15 August 2008)

Fastest eight swimmers advanced to final

Heat One (10:03)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	César Cielo Filho	BRA	– (–) –	21.34	0.67	QOR
2	5	Stefan Nystrand	SWE	– (–) –	21.71	0.79	Q
3	6	Eamon Sullivan	AUS	– (–) –	21.75	0.66	Q
4	1	Krisztián Takács	HUN	– (–) –	21.84	0.67
5	7	Duje Draganja	CRO	– (–) –	21.85	0.71
6	3	George Bovell	TTO	– (–) –	21.86	0.67
7	8	Gideon Louw	RSA	– (–) –	21.97	0.77
8	2	Rafed El-Masri	GER	– (–) –	22.09	0.78

Heat Two (10:07)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	6	Alain Bernard	FRA	– (–) –	21.54	0.75	Q
2	1	Ashley Callus	AUS	– (–) –	21.68	0.67	Q
3	3	Roland Schoeman	RSA	– (–) –	21.74	0.66	Q
=4	4	Amaury Leveaux	FRA	– (–) –	21.76	0.79	Q
=4	5	Ben Wildman-Tobriner	USA	– (–) –	21.76	0.75	Q
6	2	Garrett Weber-Gale	USA	– (–) –	22.08	0.67
7	8	Bartosz Kizierowski	POL	– (–) –	22.12	0.70
8	7	Nicholas Santos	BRA	– (–) –	22.15	0.81

Final (16 August 2008 — 10:40)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	César Cielo Filho	BRA	– (–) –	21.30	0.68	OR
2	1	Amaury Leveaux	FRA	– (–) –	21.45	0.75
3	5	Alain Bernard	FRA	– (–) –	21.49	0.73
4	3	Ashley Callus	AUS	– (–) –	21.62	0.67
5	8	Ben Wildman-Tobriner	USA	– (–) –	21.64	0.68
6	7	Eamon Sullivan	AUS	– (–) –	21.65	0.65
7	2	Roland Schoeman	RSA	– (–) –	21.67	0.64
8	6	Stefan Nystrand	SWE	– (–) –	21.72	0.79