| | 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	Competitor	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 Tórrez	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	Batbayaryn 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 Belo	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

Date	30 July 2021 — 19:23

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

Heat #1

Time	19:24

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time
1	–	Imelda Ximenes Belo	TLS	32.89	0.70
2	–	Odrina Kaze	BDI	33.39	0.75
3	–	Haneen Ibrahim	SUD	34.49	0.78

Heat #2

Time	19:26

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

Heat #3

Time	19:28

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

Heat #4

Time	19:30

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

Heat #5

Time	19:32

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

Heat #6

Time	19:34

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

Heat #7

Time	19:36

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

Heat #8

Time	19:38

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

Heat #9

Time	19:40

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

Heat #10

Time	19:42

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

Heat #11

Time	19:44

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

Semi-Finals

Date	31 July 2021 — 11:32

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

Heat #1

Time	11:32

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

Heat #2

Time	11:37

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

Final Round

Date	30 July 2021 — 10:37

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