| | Event type

50 metres Freestyle, Women

Date	20 – 21 August 2004
Status	Olympic
Location	Olympiako Kentro Ugrou Stivou, Olympiako Athletiko Kentro Athinon Spiros Loues, Athina (Main Pool)
Participants	73 from 66 countries

As she passed her 30th birthday defending champion Inge de Bruijn’s appearances in the pool became more restricted and she tended to concentrate on major championships rather than the more run of the mill events in the calendar. This strategy had proved successful at the preceding World Championships where she won the title in this event in both 2001 and 2003.

By the last day of the swimming programme she had added three more medals to the 4 she had won in Sydney but a gold had yet eluded her. De Bruijn changed this situation with a burst in the last 20 metres of the race which took her away from the pack and made her the first woman to successfully defend an Olympic title in the event. The gap between the winner and silver medallist Malia Metella of France was exactly the same as that between the second and last place finisher.

Pos	Swimmer	NOC	R1	SF	Final
1	Inge de Bruijn	NED	24.66 (1 h10)	24.56 (1 h2)	24.58 (1)	Gold
2	Malia Metella	FRA	25.21 (2 h10)	24.99 (3 h2)	24.89 (2)	Silver
3	Libby Lenton	AUS	25.31 (2 h9)	24.90 (2 h2)	24.91 (3)	Bronze
4	Therèse Alshammar	SWE	25.42 (4 h9)	25.15 (2 h1)	24.93 (4)
5	Kara Lynn Joyce	USA	25.06 (1 h9)	25.06 (1 h1)	25.00 (5)
6	Michelle Engelsman	AUS	25.28 (1 h8)	25.13 (4 h2)	25.06 (6)
7	Jenny Thompson	USA	25.50 (2 h8)	25.17 (=5 h2)	25.11 (7)
8	Flávia Delaroli	BRA	25.40 (5 h10)	25.17 (=5 h2)	25.20 (8)
9	Marleen Veldhuis	NED	25.28 (4 h10)	25.27 (3 h1)	–
10	Nery Mantey Niagkkouara	GRE	25.62 (4 h8)	25.27 (7 h2)	–
11	Rebeca Gusmão	BRA	25.64 (5 h9)	25.31 (4 h1)	–
12	Alison Sheppard	GBR	25.36 (3 h9)	25.36 (5 h1)	–
13	Cristina Chiuso	ITA	25.68 (6 h9)	25.37 (=6 h1)	–
14	Eileen Marie Coparropa	PAN	25.57 (3 h8)	25.37 (=6 h1)	–
15	Sviatlana Khokhlava	BLR	25.24 (3 h10)	25.47 (8 h1)	–
16	Dorothea Brandt	GER	25.67 (5 h8)	25.83 (8 h2)	–
17	Martina Moravcová	SVK	25.69 (6 h8)	–	–
18	Sandra Völker	GER	25.74 (6 h10)	–	–
19	Judith Draxler	AUT	25.82 (7 h9)	–	–
20	Anna-Karin Kammerling	SWE	25.85 (7 h8)	–	–
21	Ana Belén Palomo	ESP	25.92 (7 h10)	–	–
22	Jeanette Ottesen Gray	DEN	25.95 (1 h7)	–	–
23	Olha Mukomol	UKR	25.96 (8 h8)	–	–
24	Hanna-Maria Seppälä	FIN	26.01 (8 h9)	–	–
25	Sandra Kazíková	CZE	26.18 (2 h7)	–	–
26	Triin Aljand	EST	26.19 (3 h7)	–	–
27	Arlene Semeco	VEN	26.20 (4 h7)	–	–
=28	Ryu Yun-Ji	KOR	26.26 (5 h7)	–	–
=28	Vanessa García	PUR	26.26 (1 h5)	–	–
30	Lara Heinz	LUX	26.35 (1 h6)	–	–
31	Ragnheiður Ragnarsdóttir	ISL	26.36 (2 h6)	–	–
32	Zhu Yingwen	CHN	26.45 (6 h7)	–	–
33	Martha Matsa	GRE	26.46 (7 h7)	–	–
34	Alison Fitch	NZL	26.56 (2 h5)	–	–
35	Anya Gostomelsky	ISR	26.72 (3 h6)	–	–
36	Sara Isakovič	SLO	26.81 (3 h5)	–	–
37	Florencia Szigeti	ARG	26.84 (4 h6)	–	–
38	Sharntelle McLean	TTO	26.86 (8 h7)	–	–
39	Yelena Skalinskaya	KAZ	27.04 (5 h6)	–	–
40	Shikha Tandon	IND	27.08 (6 h6)	–	–
=41	Nieh Pin-Chieh	TPE	27.09 (4 h5)	–	–
=41	Zsuzsa Csobánki	HUN	27.09 (7 h6)	–	–
43	Miroslava Najdanovski	SCG	27.18 (5 h5)	–	–
44	Alia Atkinson	JAM	27.21 (6 h5)	–	–
45	Nikia Deveaux	BAH	27.36 (7 h5)	–	–
46	Melanie Slowing	GUA	27.44 (1 h4)	–	–
47	Elaine Chan	HKG	27.48 (8 h6)	–	–
48	Maria Tregubov	MDA	28.40 (2 h4)	–	–
49	Roshendra Vrolijk	ARU	28.43 (3 h4)	–	–
50	Jakie Wellman	ZAM	28.56 (4 h4)	–	–
51	Geraldine Arce	NCA	28.73 (5 h4)	–	–
52	Menaka de Silva	SRI	28.93 (6 h4)	–	–
53	Éliane Droubry	CIV	29.23 (7 h4)	–	–
54	Sade Daal	SUR	29.27 (8 h4)	–	–
55	Ermelinda Zamba	MOZ	29.34 (1 h3)	–	–
56	Tojohanitra Andriamanjatoarimanana	MAD	29.35 (2 h3)	–	–
57	Eva Donde	KEN	29.47 (3 h3)	–	–
58	Diane Etiennette	MRI	30.00 (4 h3)	–	–
59	Rubab Raza	PAK	30.10 (5 h3)	–	–
60	Rovena Marku	ALB	30.51 (6 h3)	–	–
61	Doli Akhtar	BAN	30.72 (1 h1)	–	–
62	Samar Nassar	JOR	30.83 (7 h3)	–	–
=63	Sameera Al-Bitar	BRN	31.00 (=1 h2)	–	–
=63	Ghazal Jobeili	LBN	31.00 (=1 h2)	–	–
=65	Rouya Hussain	MDV	31.26 (8 h3)	–	–
=65	Tracy Ann Route	FSM	31.26 (3 h2)	–	–
67	Christal Clashing O'Reilly	ANT	31.55 (4 h2)	–	–
68	Monika Bakale	CGO	31.61 (2 h1)	–	–
69	Han Choi	MAW	31.62 (5 h2)	–	–
70	Evelyn Otto	PLW	33.04 (6 h2)	–	–
71	Ket Sivan	CAM	34.62 (7 h2)	–	–
72	Amira Edrahi	LBA	34.67 (3 h1)	–	–
73	Vilayphone Vongphachanh	LAO	36.57 (8 h2)	–	–
DNS	Federica Pellegrini	ITA	– (DNS h10)	–	–
DNS	Dominique Diezi	SUI	– (DNS h5)	–	–

Round One (20 August 2004)

Fastest 16 advanced to the semi-finals.

Heat One (10:00)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	5	Doli Akhtar	BAN	– (–) –	30.72	0.84
2	3	Monika Bakale	CGO	– (–) –	31.61	0.97
3	4	Amira Edrahi	LBA	– (–) –	34.67	0.87

Heat Two (10:02)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
=1	4	Sameera Al-Bitar	BRN	– (–) –	31.00	0.88
=1	5	Ghazal Jobeili	LBN	– (–) –	31.00	0.85
3	6	Tracy Ann Route	FSM	– (–) –	31.26	0.85
4	7	Christal Clashing O'Reilly	ANT	– (–) –	31.55	0.88
5	3	Han Choi	MAW	– (–) –	31.62	0.77
6	2	Evelyn Otto	PLW	– (–) –	33.04	0.67
7	1	Ket Sivan	CAM	– (–) –	34.62	0.81
8	8	Vilayphone Vongphachanh	LAO	– (–) –	36.57	0.93

Heat Three (10:04)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	6	Ermelinda Zamba	MOZ	– (–) –	29.34	0.79
2	7	Tojohanitra Andriamanjatoarimanana	MAD	– (–) –	29.35	0.74
3	5	Eva Donde	KEN	– (–) –	29.47	0.74
4	4	Diane Etiennette	MRI	– (–) –	30.00	0.94
5	3	Rubab Raza	PAK	– (–) –	30.10	0.84
6	1	Rovena Marku	ALB	– (–) –	30.51	0.93
7	2	Samar Nassar	JOR	– (–) –	30.83	0.80
8	8	Rouya Hussain	MDV	– (–) –	31.26	0.87

Heat Four (10:06)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Melanie Slowing	GUA	– (–) –	27.44	0.74
2	5	Maria Tregubov	MDA	– (–) –	28.40	0.76
3	3	Roshendra Vrolijk	ARU	– (–) –	28.43	0.76
4	2	Jakie Wellman	ZAM	– (–) –	28.56	0.81
5	6	Geraldine Arce	NCA	– (–) –	28.73	0.80
6	7	Menaka de Silva	SRI	– (–) –	28.93	0.80
7	8	Éliane Droubry	CIV	– (–) –	29.23	0.85
8	1	Sade Daal	SUR	– (–) –	29.27	0.79

Heat Five (10:08)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	6	Vanessa García	PUR	– (–) –	26.26	0.69
2	5	Alison Fitch	NZL	– (–) –	26.56	0.85
3	2	Sara Isakovič	SLO	– (–) –	26.81	0.83
4	3	Nieh Pin-Chieh	TPE	– (–) –	27.09	0.78
5	1	Miroslava Najdanovski	SCG	– (–) –	27.18	0.84
6	7	Alia Atkinson	JAM	– (–) –	27.21	0.80
7	8	Nikia Deveaux	BAH	– (–) –	27.36	0.78
DNS	4	Dominique Diezi	SUI	– (–) –	–	–

Heat Six (10:10)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	2	Lara Heinz	LUX	– (–) –	26.35	0.86
2	5	Ragnheiður Ragnarsdóttir	ISL	– (–) –	26.36	0.84
3	6	Anya Gostomelsky	ISR	– (–) –	26.72	0.76
4	3	Florencia Szigeti	ARG	– (–) –	26.84	0.65
5	1	Yelena Skalinskaya	KAZ	– (–) –	27.04	0.91
6	8	Shikha Tandon	IND	– (–) –	27.08	0.80
7	7	Zsuzsa Csobánki	HUN	– (–) –	27.09	0.88
8	4	Elaine Chan	HKG	– (–) –	27.48	0.89

Heat Seven (10:12)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	6	Jeanette Ottesen Gray	DEN	– (–) –	25.95	0.74
2	2	Sandra Kazíková	CZE	– (–) –	26.18	0.72
3	3	Triin Aljand	EST	– (–) –	26.19	0.77
4	5	Arlene Semeco	VEN	– (–) –	26.20	0.77
5	7	Ryu Yun-Ji	KOR	– (–) –	26.26	0.82
6	8	Zhu Yingwen	CHN	– (–) –	26.45	0.78
7	4	Martha Matsa	GRE	– (–) –	26.46	0.87
8	1	Sharntelle McLean	TTO	– (–) –	26.86	0.82

Heat Eight (10:14)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Michelle Engelsman	AUS	– (–) –	25.28	0.74	Q
2	5	Jenny Thompson	USA	– (–) –	25.50	0.72	Q
3	8	Eileen Marie Coparropa	PAN	– (–) –	25.57	0.76	Q
4	1	Nery Mantey Niagkkouara	GRE	– (–) –	25.62	0.80	Q
5	7	Dorothea Brandt	GER	– (–) –	25.67	0.78	Q
6	6	Martina Moravcová	SVK	– (–) –	25.69	0.75
7	3	Anna-Karin Kammerling	SWE	– (–) –	25.85	0.80
8	2	Olha Mukomol	UKR	– (–) –	25.96	0.87

Heat Nine (10:16)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	3	Kara Lynn Joyce	USA	– (–) –	25.06	0.73	Q
2	4	Libby Lenton	AUS	– (–) –	25.31	0.74	Q
3	2	Alison Sheppard	GBR	– (–) –	25.36	0.79	Q
4	5	Therèse Alshammar	SWE	– (–) –	25.42	0.81	Q
5	6	Rebeca Gusmão	BRA	– (–) –	25.64	0.67	Q
6	1	Cristina Chiuso	ITA	– (–) –	25.68	0.73	Q
7	8	Judith Draxler	AUT	– (–) –	25.82	0.75
8	7	Hanna-Maria Seppälä	FIN	– (–) –	26.01	0.73

Heat Ten (10:18)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Inge de Bruijn	NED	– (–) –	24.66	0.79	Q
2	3	Malia Metella	FRA	– (–) –	25.21	0.78	Q
3	2	Sviatlana Khokhlava	BLR	– (–) –	25.24	0.79	Q
4	5	Marleen Veldhuis	NED	– (–) –	25.28	0.85	Q
5	7	Flávia Delaroli	BRA	– (–) –	25.40	0.73	Q
6	6	Sandra Völker	GER	– (–) –	25.74	0.78
7	8	Ana Belén Palomo	ESP	– (–) –	25.92	0.80
DNS	1	Federica Pellegrini	ITA	– (–) –	–	–

Semi-Finals (20 August 2004)

Fastest eight advanced to the final.

Heat One (20:23)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Kara Lynn Joyce	USA	– (–) –	25.06	0.75	Q
2	2	Therèse Alshammar	SWE	– (–) –	25.15	0.78	Q
3	3	Marleen Veldhuis	NED	– (–) –	25.27	0.84
4	1	Rebeca Gusmão	BRA	– (–) –	25.31	0.67
5	6	Alison Sheppard	GBR	– (–) –	25.36	0.79
=6	7	Eileen Marie Coparropa	PAN	– (–) –	25.37	0.77
=6	8	Cristina Chiuso	ITA	– (–) –	25.37	0.75
8	5	Sviatlana Khokhlava	BLR	– (–) –	25.47	0.82

Heat Two (20:27)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Inge de Bruijn	NED	– (–) –	24.56	0.72	Q
2	6	Libby Lenton	AUS	– (–) –	24.90	0.76	Q
3	5	Malia Metella	FRA	– (–) –	24.99	0.78	Q
4	3	Michelle Engelsman	AUS	– (–) –	25.13	0.71	Q
=5	2	Flávia Delaroli	BRA	– (–) –	25.17	0.73	Q
=5	7	Jenny Thompson	USA	– (–) –	25.17	0.75	Q
7	1	Nery Mantey Niagkkouara	GRE	– (–) –	25.27	0.75
8	8	Dorothea Brandt	GER	– (–) –	25.83	0.80

Final (21 August 2004 — 19:30)

Pos	Lane	Swimmer	NOC	Time	Reaction
1	4	Inge de Bruijn	NED	– (–) –	24.58	0.76
2	3	Malia Metella	FRA	– (–) –	24.89	0.76
3	5	Libby Lenton	AUS	– (–) –	24.91	0.77
4	7	Therèse Alshammar	SWE	– (–) –	24.93	0.76
5	6	Kara Lynn Joyce	USA	– (–) –	25.00	0.82
6	2	Michelle Engelsman	AUS	– (–) –	25.06	0.71
7	1	Jenny Thompson	USA	– (–) –	25.11	0.71
8	8	Flávia Delaroli	BRA	– (–) –	25.20	0.73