| | Event type

50 metres Freestyle, Women

Date	22 – 23 September 2000
Status	Olympic
Location	Sydney International Aquatic Centre, Olympic Park, Sydney, New South Wales
Participants	74 from 66 countries

The main threat to Inge de Bruijn’s attempt to add a third Olympic title to her haul from the Sydney Games appeared to be the current World and Olympic champion Amy van Dyken. Things got ugly between the two at the semi-final when US TV filmed van Dyken spitting into de Bruijn’s lane. It seemed to have little effect on the Dutch woman who responded by setting a new world record.

The final also followed the same pattern with “Invincible Inky”, as the Australian press called her, speeding like a bullet towards the finish and another Olympic gold. [Therese Alshammar] of Sweden matched her performance of the 100 metre freestyle by winning the silver medal with 33-year-old American Dara Torres finishing third. Torres would come back in 2008 and win silver in this event, the oldest female Olympic swimming medalist ever. She also attempted to make the 2012 US Olympic Team at age 45, but did not get past the US Trials.

Pos	Swimmer	NOC	R1	SF	Final
1	Inge de Bruijn	NED	24.46 (1 h10)	24.13 (1 h2)	24.32 (1)	Gold
2	Therèse Alshammar	SWE	25.24 (1 h9)	24.80 (1 h1)	24.51 (2)	Silver
3	Dara Torres	USA	24.96 (1 h8)	24.98 (2 h1)	24.63 (3)	Bronze
4	Amy Van Dyken	USA	25.04 (2 h10)	25.00 (2 h2)	25.04 (4)
5	Martina Moravcová	SVK	25.39 (3 h10)	25.49 (4 h2)	25.24 (5)
6	Sandra Völker	GER	25.44 (2 h9)	25.22 (3 h1)	25.27 (6)
7	Alison Sheppard	GBR	25.53 (2 h8)	25.32 (3 h2)	25.45 (7)
8	Sumika Minamoto	JPN	25.52 (=4 h10)	25.43 (4 h1)	25.65 (8)
9	Vivienne Rignall	NZL	25.52 (=4 h10)	25.61 (=5 h2)	–
10	Anna-Karin Kammerling	SWE	25.79 (4 h8)	25.61 (=5 h2)	–
11	Katrin Meißner	GER	25.64 (6 h10)	25.62 (5 h1)	–
12	Susie O'Neill	AUS	25.73 (3 h8)	25.74 (6 h1)	–
13	Wilma van Rijn	NED	25.81 (3 h9)	25.87 (7 h1)	–
14	Olha Mukomol	UKR	25.67 (7 h10)	25.88 (7 h2)	–
15	Rania El-Wani	EGY	25.87 (1 h6)	25.95 (8 h2)	–
16	Jana Kolukanova	EST	25.96 (1 h7)	26.03 (8 h1)	–
=17	Mette Jacobsen	DEN	25.96 (2 h6)	–	–
=17	Ana Belén Palomo	ESP	25.96 (4 h9)	–	–
19	Cristina Chiuso	ITA	25.99 (5 h8)	–	–
20	Sue Rolph	GBR	26.00 (6 h8)	–	–
21	Han Xue	CHN	26.01 (5 h9)	–	–
22	Nadine Rolland	CAN	26.04 (7 h8)	–	–
=23	Sarah Ryan	AUS	26.05 (8 h8)	–	–
=23	Leah Martindale	BAR	26.05 (3 h6)	–	–
25	Heleen Muller	RSA	26.07 (6 h9)	–	–
26	Alena Popchanka	BLR	26.10 (2 h7)	–	–
27	Eileen Marie Coparropa	PAN	26.19 (7 h9)	–	–
=28	Liesbet Dreesen	BEL	26.21 (=3 h7)	–	–
=28	Hanna-Maria Seppälä	FIN	26.21 (=3 h7)	–	–
30	Ivana Walterová	SVK	26.23 (5 h7)	–	–
31	Judith Draxler	AUT	26.26 (8 h9)	–	–
32	Siobhan Cropper	TTO	26.36 (4 h6)	–	–
33	Yekaterina Kibalo	RUS	26.37 (6 h7)	–	–
34	Lara Heinz	LUX	26.55 (5 h6)	–	–
35	Caroline Pickering	FIJ	26.57 (6 h6)	–	–
36	Kirsty Coventry	ZIM	26.58 (7 h6)	–	–
37	Joscelin Yeo	SGP	26.71 (7 h7)	–	–
38	Jenna Gresdal	CAN	26.79 (8 h10)	–	–
39	Moe Thu Aung	MYA	26.80 (1 h1)	–	–
40	Chiang Tzu-Ying	TPE	26.84 (1 h5)	–	–
=41	Yekaterina Tochenaya	KGZ	26.88 (1 h4)	–	–
=41	Jang Hui-Jin	KOR	26.88 (8 h6)	–	–
43	Athina Bochori	GRE	26.90 (8 h7)	–	–
44	Agnese Ozoliņa	LAT	27.28 (2 h5)	–	–
45	Pilin Tachakittiranan	THA	27.31 (3 h5)	–	–
46	Marijana Šurković	CRO	27.32 (4 h5)	–	–
47	Sherry Tsai	HKG	27.38 (5 h5)	–	–
48	Chantal Gibney	IRL	27.46 (6 h5)	–	–
49	Angelia Chuck	JAM	27.48 (2 h4)	–	–
50	Jūratė Ladavičiūtė	LTU	27.54 (7 h5)	–	–
51	Elín Sigurðardóttir	ISL	27.58 (8 h5)	–	–
52	Marilyn Chua	MAS	27.66 (3 h4)	–	–
53	Duška Radan	SCG	27.70 (4 h4)	–	–
54	Maria Tregubov	MDA	27.75 (5 h4)	–	–
55	Saida Iskandarova	UZB	28.08 (6 h4)	–	–
56	Talía Barrios	PER	28.11 (7 h4)	–	–
57	Ngozi Monu	NGR	28.20 (1 h3)	–	–
58	Tânia Anacleto	MOZ	28.78 (2 h3)	–	–
59	Alisa Xalıyeva	AZE	28.79 (3 h3)	–	–
60	Sherri Henry	LCA	28.81 (4 h3)	–	–
61	Mbolatiana Ramanisa	MAD	29.20 (5 h3)	–	–
62	Roshendra Vrolijk	ARU	29.31 (6 h3)	–	–
63	Yuliana Mikheeva	ARM	29.79 (7 h3)	–	–
64	Theekshana Ratnasekera	SRI	29.88 (1 h2)	–	–
65	Samar Nassar	PLE	30.05 (2 h2)	–	–
66	Runa Pradhan	NEP	31.28 (3 h2)	–	–
67	Teran Matthews	VIN	31.71 (4 h2)	–	–
68	Francilla Agar	DMA	32.22 (8 h3)	–	–
69	Fariha Fathimath	MDV	32.36 (5 h2)	–	–
70	Hem Raksmey	CAM	33.11 (6 h2)	–	–
71	Noor Haki	IRQ	35.51 (7 h2)	–	–
72	Aissatou Barry	GUI	35.79 (8 h4)	–	–
73	Paula Barila Bolopa	GEQ	1:03.97 (2 h1)	–	–
DQ	Fatima Abdul Majeed	BRN	– (DQ h1)	–	–

Round One (22 September 2000)

Fastest 16 advanced to the semi-finals.

Heat One (10:02)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Moe Thu Aung	MYA	– (–) –	26.80	0.76
2	3	Paula Barila Bolopa	GEQ	– (–) –	1:03.97	0.73
DQ	5	Fatima Abdul Majeed	BRN	– (–) –	–	–	1

Heat Two (10:04)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	5	Theekshana Ratnasekera	SRI	– (–) –	29.88	0.61
2	3	Samar Nassar	PLE	– (–) –	30.05	0.61
3	6	Runa Pradhan	NEP	– (–) –	31.28	0.61
4	2	Teran Matthews	VIN	– (–) –	31.71	0.94
5	7	Fariha Fathimath	MDV	– (–) –	32.36	0.61
6	1	Hem Raksmey	CAM	– (–) –	33.11	0.61
7	4	Noor Haki	IRQ	– (–) –	35.51	0.61

Heat Three (10:06)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	5	Ngozi Monu	NGR	– (–) –	28.20	0.88
2	7	Tânia Anacleto	MOZ	– (–) –	28.78	0.64
3	4	Alisa Xalıyeva	AZE	– (–) –	28.79	0.86
4	8	Sherri Henry	LCA	– (–) –	28.81	0.89
5	6	Mbolatiana Ramanisa	MAD	– (–) –	29.20	0.89
6	2	Roshendra Vrolijk	ARU	– (–) –	29.31	0.83
7	3	Yuliana Mikheeva	ARM	– (–) –	29.79	0.64
8	1	Francilla Agar	DMA	– (–) –	32.22	0.84

Heat Four (10:08)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	3	Yekaterina Tochenaya	KGZ	– (–) –	26.88	0.81
2	6	Angelia Chuck	JAM	– (–) –	27.48	0.82
3	5	Marilyn Chua	MAS	– (–) –	27.66	0.82
4	4	Duška Radan	SCG	– (–) –	27.70	0.78
5	1	Maria Tregubov	MDA	– (–) –	27.75	0.86
6	7	Saida Iskandarova	UZB	– (–) –	28.08	0.81
7	2	Talía Barrios	PER	– (–) –	28.11	0.79
8	8	Aissatou Barry	GUI	– (–) –	35.79	1.06

Heat Five (10:10)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	2	Chiang Tzu-Ying	TPE	– (–) –	26.84	0.81
2	8	Agnese Ozoliņa	LAT	– (–) –	27.28	0.80
3	3	Pilin Tachakittiranan	THA	– (–) –	27.31	0.84
4	4	Marijana Šurković	CRO	– (–) –	27.32	0.80
5	7	Sherry Tsai	HKG	– (–) –	27.38	0.79
6	6	Chantal Gibney	IRL	– (–) –	27.46	0.84
7	1	Jūratė Ladavičiūtė	LTU	– (–) –	27.54	0.84
8	5	Elín Sigurðardóttir	ISL	– (–) –	27.58	0.79

Heat Six (10:12)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	6	Rania El-Wani	EGY	– (–) –	25.87	0.55	Q
2	7	Mette Jacobsen	DEN	– (–) –	25.96	0.85
3	1	Leah Martindale	BAR	– (–) –	26.05	0.85
4	3	Siobhan Cropper	TTO	– (–) –	26.36	0.79
5	5	Lara Heinz	LUX	– (–) –	26.55	0.86
6	8	Caroline Pickering	FIJ	– (–) –	26.57	0.87
7	2	Kirsty Coventry	ZIM	– (–) –	26.58	0.55
8	4	Jang Hui-Jin	KOR	– (–) –	26.88	0.55

Heat Seven (10:14)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	8	Jana Kolukanova	EST	– (–) –	25.96	0.88	q
2	6	Alena Popchanka	BLR	– (–) –	26.10	0.85
=3	4	Liesbet Dreesen	BEL	– (–) –	26.21	0.87
=3	7	Hanna-Maria Seppälä	FIN	– (–) –	26.21	0.74
5	5	Ivana Walterová	SVK	– (–) –	26.23	0.76
6	3	Yekaterina Kibalo	RUS	– (–) –	26.37	0.81
7	1	Joscelin Yeo	SGP	– (–) –	26.71	0.70
8	2	Athina Bochori	GRE	– (–) –	26.90	0.80

Heat Eight (10:16)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Dara Torres	USA	– (–) –	24.96	0.75	Q
2	5	Alison Sheppard	GBR	– (–) –	25.53	0.78	Q
3	7	Susie O'Neill	AUS	– (–) –	25.73	0.77	Q
4	6	Anna-Karin Kammerling	SWE	– (–) –	25.79	0.80	Q
5	2	Cristina Chiuso	ITA	– (–) –	25.99	0.76
6	3	Sue Rolph	GBR	– (–) –	26.00	0.78
7	8	Nadine Rolland	CAN	– (–) –	26.04	0.75
8	1	Sarah Ryan	AUS	– (–) –	26.05	0.74

Heat Nine (10:18)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Therèse Alshammar	SWE	– (–) –	25.24	0.81	Q
2	5	Sandra Völker	GER	– (–) –	25.44	0.53	Q
3	3	Wilma van Rijn	NED	– (–) –	25.81	0.80	Q
4	7	Ana Belén Palomo	ESP	– (–) –	25.96	0.78	q
5	1	Han Xue	CHN	– (–) –	26.01	0.53
6	8	Heleen Muller	RSA	– (–) –	26.07	0.53
7	2	Eileen Marie Coparropa	PAN	– (–) –	26.19	0.75
8	6	Judith Draxler	AUT	– (–) –	26.26	0.81

Heat Ten (10:20)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Inge de Bruijn	NED	– (–) –	24.46	0.73	QOR
2	5	Amy Van Dyken	USA	– (–) –	25.04	0.74	Q
3	7	Martina Moravcová	SVK	– (–) –	25.39	0.79	Q
=4	1	Vivienne Rignall	NZL	– (–) –	25.52	0.78	Q
=4	3	Sumika Minamoto	JPN	– (–) –	25.52	0.67	Q
6	2	Katrin Meißner	GER	– (–) –	25.64	0.82	Q
7	6	Olha Mukomol	UKR	– (–) –	25.67	0.96	Q
8	8	Jenna Gresdal	CAN	– (–) –	26.79	0.83

Swim-Off for 16th Place

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time
1	–	Jana Kolukanova	EST	– (–) –	25.86	Q
2	–	Mette Jacobsen	DEN	– (–) –	26.00
DQ	–	Ana Belén Palomo	ESP	– (–) –	–

Semi-Finals (22 September 2000)

Fastest eight advanced to the final.

Heat One (20:07)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	5	Therèse Alshammar	SWE	– (–) –	24.80	0.82	Q
2	4	Dara Torres	USA	– (–) –	24.98	0.75	Q
3	3	Sandra Völker	GER	– (–) –	25.22	0.70	Q
4	6	Sumika Minamoto	JPN	– (–) –	25.43	0.66	Q
5	2	Katrin Meißner	GER	– (–) –	25.62	0.80
6	7	Susie O'Neill	AUS	– (–) –	25.74	0.79
7	1	Wilma van Rijn	NED	– (–) –	25.87	0.81
8	8	Jana Kolukanova	EST	– (–) –	26.03	0.89

Heat Two (20:12)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Inge de Bruijn	NED	– (–) –	24.13	0.41	QWR
2	5	Amy Van Dyken	USA	– (–) –	25.00	0.41	Q
3	2	Alison Sheppard	GBR	– (–) –	25.32	0.75	Q
4	3	Martina Moravcová	SVK	– (–) –	25.49	0.78	Q
=5	1	Anna-Karin Kammerling	SWE	– (–) –	25.61	0.83
=5	6	Vivienne Rignall	NZL	– (–) –	25.61	0.77
7	7	Olha Mukomol	UKR	– (–) –	25.88	0.90
8	8	Rania El-Wani	EGY	– (–) –	25.95	0.78

Final (23 September 2000 — 15:33)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Inge de Bruijn	NED	– (–) –	24.32	0.72
2	5	Therèse Alshammar	SWE	– (–) –	24.51	0.76
3	3	Dara Torres	USA	– (–) –	24.63	0.74
4	6	Amy Van Dyken	USA	– (–) –	25.04	0.76
5	8	Martina Moravcová	SVK	– (–) –	25.24	0.80
6	2	Sandra Völker	GER	– (–) –	25.27	0.73
7	7	Alison Sheppard	GBR	– (–) –	25.45	0.79
8	1	Sumika Minamoto	JPN	– (–) –	25.65	0.68