100 metres Freestyle, Women

Sarah Sjöström (SWE) had first competed at the Olympic Games in 2008, as a 14-year-old. She was back for her fifth appearance and was still the world record holder in this event, set at the 2017 World Championships. At 30-years-old, she was considered ancient for a world-class swimmer and was not considered a gold medal contender in 2024. Apparently, Sarah Sjöström never got that message.

Emma McKeon was the defending gold medalist but only made the Australian team in the 100 metre butterfly. In her absence, the favorites were considered to be her teammate Mollie O’Callaghan, the 2022 and 2023 World Champion; Siobhán Haughey (HKG), the silver medalist from Tokyo 2020; and Marrit Steenbergen (NED), the 2024 World Champion.

The three favorites made the final, along with Sjöström, and Torri Huske, the Americans’ top hope who had already taken gold in Paris in the 100 fly. Huske was out fastest and led at 50 metres, but Sjöström was only 2/10ths of a second behind, although in fourth place at that point. O’Callaghan got out slowly and was tied for last place at the turn.

O’Callaghan had the fastest second lap but it would only bring her home in fourth. Sjöström closed on Huske with the second-best final lap and out-touched the American to win a surprising gold medal. Haughey held on to take the bronze.

Sjöström came to Paris expecting to swim only the 50 metre freestyle, and relays, but added the 100 free at the last minute. She later said, “I never thought I would win a gold medal at my fifth Olympics.” Four days later, she would shock the swimming world again, winning the 50 metre freestyle, giving her six Olympic medals, three of them gold – she won the 100 butterfly in 2016. Although many swimmers had won more Olympic medals, most of them did it with the benefit of relay medals, but Sweden was not a swimming powerhouse, and all of Sjöström’s medals were in individual events.