| | Event type

100 metres Breaststroke, Men

Date	28 – 29 July 2012
Status	Olympic
Location	London Aquatics Centre, Olympic Park, Stratford, London
Participants	44 from 37 countries

Something was missing in this event. The 2011 World Champion was Norwegian Alexander Dale Oen, who had won a silver medal in this event in 2008. Training in Flagstaff, Arizona in April 2012, Oen collapsed in his shower after a morning swim, and died later that day. The swimming world mourned the loss of the popular Norwegian who would have been favored in London in the 100 breast.

But something was back in two-time defending champion Kosuke Kitajima of Japan, and another surprise returnee was American Brendan Hansen. Hansen had competed at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, but had always struggled to defeat Kitajima and had won silver in this event in 2004 and placed fourth in 2008. He retired after the 2008 Olympics, with two relay gold medals but no individual golds, and that gnawed at him. He returned to the water in 2011 attempting to fill that one hole in his swimming résumé, and won the US titles in the 100 and 200 breast in 2011 and qualified for the 2012 US Olympic team.

Both Kitajima and Hansen made the final as did Australian Brenton Rickard, who had set the world record of 58.58 in 2009. Also in the final was Italy’s Fabio Scozzoli, second to Oen at the 2011 Worlds, and South African Cameron van der Burgh, who had won bronze medals at the 2011 Worlds in both the 50 and 100 breaststroke events. Kitajima started the final in the early lead but had nothing left, was only fifth at the wall, and would finish fifth. Van der Burgh blasted to 27.07 at the wall, more than ½-second ahead of Rickard’s world record split, and would maintain that to win in a world record 58.46. The silver went to Australian Christian Sprenger, while Hansen finished third for the bronze medal, despite swimming in lane eight. Rickard placed sixth with Scozzoli seventh.

After he finished, van der Burgh gave a skyward salute, paying homage to his close friend, Alexander Dale Oen.

Pos	Competitor	NOC	R1	SF	Final
1	Cameron van der Burgh	RSA	59.79 (2 h4)	58.83 (1 h1)	58.46 (1)	Gold
2	Christian Sprenger	AUS	59.62 (1 h6)	59.61 (1 h2)	58.93 (2)	Silver
3	Brendan Hansen	USA	59.93 (3 h4)	59.78 (6 h1)	59.49 (3)	Bronze
4	Dániel Gyurta	HUN	59.76 (1 h4)	59.74 (5 h1)	59.53 (4)
5	Kosuke Kitajima	JPN	59.63 (2 h6)	59.69 (4 h1)	59.79 (5)
6	Brenton Rickard	AUS	1:00.07 (5 h4)	59.50 (3 h1)	59.87 (6)
7	Fabio Scozzoli	ITA	59.99 (5 h5)	59.44 (2 h1)	59.97 (7)
8	Giedrius Titenis	LTU	59.68 (3 h6)	59.66 (2 h2)	1:00.84 (8)
9	Michael Jamieson	GBR	59.89 (3 h5)	59.89 (3 h2)	–
10	Ryo Tateishi	JPN	59.86 (4 h6)	59.93 (7 h1)	–
11	Eric Shanteau	USA	59.96 (4 h5)	59.96 (4 h2)	–
12	Felipe França	BRA	1:00.38 (6 h5)	1:00.01 (5 h2)	–
13	Felipe Lima	BRA	1:00.57 (5 h6)	1:00.08 (8 h1)	–
14	Craig Benson	GBR	1:00.04 (4 h4)	1:00.13 (6 h2)	–
15	Glenn Snyders	NZL	59.78 (1 h5)	1:00.15 (7 h2)	–
16	Scott Dickens	CAN	59.85 (2 h5)	1:00.16 (8 h2)	–
17	Giacomo Perez-Dortona	FRA	1:00.59 (1 h3)	–	–
18	Damir Dugonjič	SLO	1:00.77 (7 h5)	–	–
19	Christian vom Lehn	GER	1:00.78 (6 h6)	–	–
20	Lennart Stekelenburg	NED	1:00.96 (6 h4)	–	–
21	Hendrik Feldwehr	GER	1:01.00 (7 h6)	–	–
22	Panagiotis Samilidis	GRE	1:01.20 (2 h3)	–	–
=23	Valeriy Dymo	UKR	1:01.27 (7 h4)	–	–
=23	Mattia Pesce	ITA	1:01.27 (8 h5)	–	–
25	Carlos Almeida	POR	1:01.40 (3 h3)	–	–
26	Laurent Carnol	LUX	1:01.46 (1 h2)	–	–
27	Roman Sludnov	RUS	1:01.47 (8 h6)	–	–
28	Li Xiayan	CHN	1:01.55 (4 h3)	–	–
=29	Martin Liivamägi	EST	1:01.57 (5 h3)	–	–
=29	Barry Murphy	IRL	1:01.57 (8 h4)	–	–
31	Čaba Silađi	SRB	1:01.95 (2 h2)	–	–
=32	Imri Ganiel	ISR	1:02.07 (=6 h3)	–	–
=32	Dawid Szulich	POL	1:02.07 (=6 h3)	–	–
34	Vlad Polyakov	KAZ	1:02.15 (3 h2)	–	–
35	Édgar Crespo	PAN	1:02.18 (4 h2)	–	–
36	Jakob Sveinsson	ISL	1:02.65 (5 h2)	–	–
=37	Dragoș Agache	ROU	1:02.93 (8 h3)	–	–
=37	Malick Fall	SEN	1:02.93 (6 h2)	–	–
39	Azad Barazi	SYR	1:03.48 (7 h2)	–	–
40	Dănilă Artiomov	MDA	1:03.57 (8 h2)	–	–
41	Amini Fonua	TGA	1:03.65 (1 h1)	–	–
42	Mubarak Al-Besher	UAE	1:05.26 (2 h1)	–	–
43	Diguan Pigot	SUR	1:05.55 (3 h1)	–	–
44	Wael Koubrousli	LBN	1:07.06 (4 h1)	–	–

Round One

Date	28 July 2012 — 11:53
Format	Fastest 16 swimmers advanced to semi-finals

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time
1	–	Christian Sprenger	AUS	59.62	Q
2	–	Kosuke Kitajima	JPN	59.63	Q
3	–	Giedrius Titenis	LTU	59.68	Q
4	–	Dániel Gyurta	HUN	59.76	Q
5	–	Glenn Snyders	NZL	59.78	Q
6	–	Cameron van der Burgh	RSA	59.79	Q
7	–	Scott Dickens	CAN	59.85	Q
8	–	Ryo Tateishi	JPN	59.86	Q
9	–	Michael Jamieson	GBR	59.89	Q
10	–	Brendan Hansen	USA	59.93	Q
11	–	Eric Shanteau	USA	59.96	Q
12	–	Fabio Scozzoli	ITA	59.99	Q
13	–	Craig Benson	GBR	1:00.04	Q
14	–	Brenton Rickard	AUS	1:00.07	Q
15	–	Felipe França	BRA	1:00.38	Q
16	–	Felipe Lima	BRA	1:00.57	Q
17	–	Giacomo Perez-Dortona	FRA	1:00.59
18	–	Damir Dugonjič	SLO	1:00.77
19	–	Christian vom Lehn	GER	1:00.78
20	–	Lennart Stekelenburg	NED	1:00.96
21	–	Hendrik Feldwehr	GER	1:01.00
22	–	Panagiotis Samilidis	GRE	1:01.20
=23	–	Valeriy Dymo	UKR	1:01.27
=23	–	Mattia Pesce	ITA	1:01.27
25	–	Carlos Almeida	POR	1:01.40
26	–	Laurent Carnol	LUX	1:01.46
27	–	Roman Sludnov	RUS	1:01.47
28	–	Li Xiayan	CHN	1:01.55
=29	–	Martin Liivamägi	EST	1:01.57
=29	–	Barry Murphy	IRL	1:01.57
31	–	Čaba Silađi	SRB	1:01.95
=32	–	Dawid Szulich	POL	1:02.07
=32	–	Imri Ganiel	ISR	1:02.07
34	–	Vlad Polyakov	KAZ	1:02.15
35	–	Édgar Crespo	PAN	1:02.18
36	–	Jakob Sveinsson	ISL	1:02.65
=37	–	Malick Fall	SEN	1:02.93
=37	–	Dragoș Agache	ROU	1:02.93
39	–	Azad Barazi	SYR	1:03.48
40	–	Dănilă Artiomov	MDA	1:03.57
41	–	Amini Fonua	TGA	1:03.65
42	–	Mubarak Al-Besher	UAE	1:05.26
43	–	Diguan Pigot	SUR	1:05.55
44	–	Wael Koubrousli	LBN	1:07.06

Heat #1

Time	11:53

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Amini Fonua	TGA	1:03.65	0.68	29.72 (1)	33.93
2	–	Mubarak Al-Besher	UAE	1:05.26	0.69	30.15 (2)	35.11
3	–	Diguan Pigot	SUR	1:05.55	0.67	30.55 (3)	35.00
4	–	Wael Koubrousli	LBN	1:07.06	0.75	31.99 (4)	35.07

Heat #2

Time	11:56

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Laurent Carnol	LUX	1:01.46	0.73	28.96 (3)	32.50
2	–	Čaba Silađi	SRB	1:01.95	0.72	29.11 (6)	32.84
3	–	Vlad Polyakov	KAZ	1:02.15	0.74	29.06 (5)	33.09
4	–	Édgar Crespo	PAN	1:02.18	0.67	28.75 (1)	33.43
5	–	Jakob Sveinsson	ISL	1:02.65	0.70	29.00 (4)	33.65
6	–	Malick Fall	SEN	1:02.93	0.78	28.90 (2)	34.03
7	–	Azad Barazi	SYR	1:03.48	0.70	29.35 (7)	34.13
8	–	Dănilă Artiomov	MDA	1:03.57	0.67	29.40 (8)	34.17

Heat #3

Time	11:59

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Giacomo Perez-Dortona	FRA	1:00.59	0.68	28.29 (1)	32.30
2	–	Panagiotis Samilidis	GRE	1:01.20	0.70	29.03 (7)	32.17
3	–	Carlos Almeida	POR	1:01.40	0.69	28.94 (5)	32.46
4	–	Li Xiayan	CHN	1:01.55	0.76	28.81 (4)	32.74
5	–	Martin Liivamägi	EST	1:01.57	0.70	28.78 (3)	32.79
=6	–	Dawid Szulich	POL	1:02.07	0.76	28.72 (2)	33.35
=6	–	Imri Ganiel	ISR	1:02.07	0.68	29.31 (8)	32.76
8	–	Dragoș Agache	ROU	1:02.93	0.75	28.98 (6)	33.95

Heat #4

Time	12:01

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Dániel Gyurta	HUN	59.76	0.74	28.33 (5)	31.43	Q
2	–	Cameron van der Burgh	RSA	59.79	0.67	27.29 (1)	32.50	Q
3	–	Brendan Hansen	USA	59.93	0.70	28.25 (4)	31.68	Q
4	–	Craig Benson	GBR	1:00.04	0.73	28.22 (3)	31.82	Q
5	–	Brenton Rickard	AUS	1:00.07	0.71	28.21 (2)	31.86	Q
6	–	Lennart Stekelenburg	NED	1:00.96	0.70	28.66 (=7)	32.30
7	–	Valeriy Dymo	UKR	1:01.27	0.75	28.66 (=7)	32.61
8	–	Barry Murphy	IRL	1:01.57	0.68	28.37 (6)	33.20

Heat #5

Time	12:04

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Glenn Snyders	NZL	59.78	0.63	27.72 (1)	32.06	Q
2	–	Scott Dickens	CAN	59.85	0.70	28.04 (4)	31.81	Q
3	–	Michael Jamieson	GBR	59.89	0.80	28.37 (7)	31.52	Q
4	–	Eric Shanteau	USA	59.96	0.70	28.54 (8)	31.42	Q
5	–	Fabio Scozzoli	ITA	59.99	0.61	28.01 (2)	31.98	Q
6	–	Felipe França	BRA	1:00.38	0.69	28.08 (5)	32.30	Q
7	–	Damir Dugonjič	SLO	1:00.77	0.78	28.03 (3)	32.74
8	–	Mattia Pesce	ITA	1:01.27	0.68	28.33 (6)	32.94

Heat #6

Time	12:07

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Christian Sprenger	AUS	59.62	0.67	27.78 (1)	31.84	Q
2	–	Kosuke Kitajima	JPN	59.63	0.66	28.04 (3)	31.59	Q
3	–	Giedrius Titenis	LTU	59.68	0.72	27.86 (2)	31.82	Q
4	–	Ryo Tateishi	JPN	59.86	0.68	28.34 (5)	31.52	Q
5	–	Felipe Lima	BRA	1:00.57	0.68	28.11 (4)	32.46	Q
6	–	Christian vom Lehn	GER	1:00.78	0.72	28.75 (8)	32.03
7	–	Hendrik Feldwehr	GER	1:01.00	0.76	28.48 (6)	32.52
8	–	Roman Sludnov	RUS	1:01.47	0.78	28.55 (7)	32.92

Semi-Finals

Date	28 July 2012 — 20:32
Format	Fastest eight swimmers advanced to final

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time
1	–	Cameron van der Burgh	RSA	58.83	QOR
2	–	Fabio Scozzoli	ITA	59.44	Q
3	–	Brenton Rickard	AUS	59.50	Q
4	–	Christian Sprenger	AUS	59.61	Q
5	–	Giedrius Titenis	LTU	59.66	Q
6	–	Kosuke Kitajima	JPN	59.69	Q
7	–	Dániel Gyurta	HUN	59.74	Q
8	–	Brendan Hansen	USA	59.78	Q
9	–	Michael Jamieson	GBR	59.89
10	–	Ryo Tateishi	JPN	59.93
11	–	Eric Shanteau	USA	59.96
12	–	Felipe França	BRA	1:00.01
13	–	Felipe Lima	BRA	1:00.08
14	–	Craig Benson	GBR	1:00.13
15	–	Glenn Snyders	NZL	1:00.15
16	–	Scott Dickens	CAN	1:00.16

Heat #1

Time	20:32

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Cameron van der Burgh	RSA	58.83	0.65	27.47 (1)	31.36	QOR
2	–	Fabio Scozzoli	ITA	59.44	0.62	27.72 (2)	31.72	Q
3	–	Brenton Rickard	AUS	59.50	0.73	27.83 (3)	31.67	Q
4	–	Kosuke Kitajima	JPN	59.69	0.67	28.30 (8)	31.39	Q
5	–	Dániel Gyurta	HUN	59.74	0.74	28.29 (=6)	31.45	Q
6	–	Brendan Hansen	USA	59.78	0.67	27.96 (5)	31.82	Q
7	–	Ryo Tateishi	JPN	59.93	0.64	28.29 (=6)	31.64
8	–	Felipe Lima	BRA	1:00.08	0.69	27.95 (4)	32.13

Heat #2

Time	20:39

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Christian Sprenger	AUS	59.61	0.67	27.76 (1)	31.85	Q
2	–	Giedrius Titenis	LTU	59.66	0.73	27.96 (3)	31.70	Q
3	–	Michael Jamieson	GBR	59.89	0.78	28.24 (=6)	31.65
4	–	Eric Shanteau	USA	59.96	0.71	28.24 (=6)	31.72
5	–	Felipe França	BRA	1:00.01	0.70	28.10 (=4)	31.91
6	–	Craig Benson	GBR	1:00.13	0.79	28.54 (8)	31.59
7	–	Glenn Snyders	NZL	1:00.15	0.61	27.78 (2)	32.37
8	–	Scott Dickens	CAN	1:00.16	0.70	28.10 (=4)	32.06

Final Round

Date	29 July 2012 — 20:11

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	Reaction Time	50 m	50-100 m Time (Rank)
1	–	Cameron van der Burgh	RSA	58.46	0.63	27.07 (1)	31.39	WR
2	–	Christian Sprenger	AUS	58.93	0.67	27.65 (2)	31.28
3	–	Brendan Hansen	USA	59.49	0.67	27.85 (6)	31.64
4	–	Dániel Gyurta	HUN	59.53	0.73	28.05 (7)	31.48
5	–	Kosuke Kitajima	JPN	59.79	0.64	27.78 (5)	32.01
6	–	Brenton Rickard	AUS	59.87	0.73	28.08 (8)	31.79
7	–	Fabio Scozzoli	ITA	59.97	0.62	27.73 (4)	32.24
8	–	Giedrius Titenis	LTU	1:00.84	0.74	27.71 (3)	33.13